WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Wednesday announced plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official.

The move comes as the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

&nbsp;According to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:

"These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.&nbsp; They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation."

"The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms."

"Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. "

"This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.&nbsp; If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation."

"The designation will take effect 30 days from now, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen. We are rolling out unprecedented carve outs and licenses to help prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people."

"The people of Yemen should not pay the price for the actions of the Houthis.&nbsp;&nbsp; We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions."

"This is in addition to the carveouts we include in all sanctions programs for food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance.As President Biden has said, the United States will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce."

“This designation would add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises,” said Scott Paul, an associate director of Oxfam America. “The Biden administration is playing with fire and we call on them to avoid this designation immediately and prioritize the lives of Yemenis now.”

The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing “material support” and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the foreign terrorist organization label, steps intended to help prevent the U.S. move from harming ordinary Yemenis.

Meanwhile, a senior White House official said Tuesday that addressing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">ongoing threat by Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy.

“How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the world’s shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel. U.S. and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.

The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading Tuesday.

The U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a new strike</a>&nbsp;against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.

Sullivan said it was critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear “that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.

“We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage,” Sullivan said.

The comments from Sullivan came after Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a “recipe for escalation everywhere.” He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.

Sullivan on Tuesday met with Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.

Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli “spy headquarters” in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/TurkeySyriaEarthquake">Syria</a>.

Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a “blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Wednesday announced plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official.The move comes as the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.&nbsp;According to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:"These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.&nbsp; They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Terrorist Designation of the Houthis <a href="https://t.co/LdF3SrVKga">https://t.co/LdF3SrVKga</a> <a href="https://t.co/5aFTUDvytH">pic.twitter.com/5aFTUDvytH</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy to Yemen السفارة الأمريكية لدى اليمن (@USEmbassyYemen) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyYemen/status/1747653176088576196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms.""Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. ""This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.&nbsp; If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation.""The designation will take effect 30 days from now, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen. We are rolling out unprecedented carve outs and licenses to help prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people.""The people of Yemen should not pay the price for the actions of the Houthis.&nbsp;&nbsp; We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions.""This is in addition to the carveouts we include in all sanctions programs for food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance.As President Biden has said, the United States will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce."“This designation would add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises,” said Scott Paul, an associate director of Oxfam America. “The Biden administration is playing with fire and we call on them to avoid this designation immediately and prioritize the lives of Yemenis now.”The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing “material support” and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the foreign terrorist organization label, steps intended to help prevent the U.S. move from harming ordinary Yemenis.Meanwhile, a senior White House official said Tuesday that addressing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">ongoing threat by Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy.“How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the world’s shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel. U.S. and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.Linda Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading Tuesday.The U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a new strike</a>&nbsp;against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.Sullivan said it was critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear “that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.“We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage,” Sullivan said.The comments from Sullivan came after Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a “recipe for escalation everywhere.” He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.Sullivan on Tuesday met with Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli “spy headquarters” in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/TurkeySyriaEarthquake">Syria</a>.Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a “blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

 US relists Iranian-rebel group as terrorists in response to Red Sea attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairmen of the top tax policy committees in Congress announced a bipartisan agreement Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credits-program-ends-5ded3907c72ee0c3ad8a067a29d6b2c0">enhance the child tax credit</a>&nbsp;and revive a variety of tax breaks for businesses, a combination designed to attract support from lawmakers of both political parties.

The roughly $78 billion in tax cuts would be paid for by more quickly ending a tax break Congress approved during the COVID-19 pandemic that encouraged businesses to keep employees on their payroll.

The agreement was announced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-wyden">Sen. Ron Wyden</a>, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-smith">Rep. Jason Smith</a>, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The lawmakers have been negotiating for months on a tax package that would address an array of priorities before lawmakers turn their focus to election season.

Wyden said his goal is to gain approval of the measure in time for businesses and families to benefit during the upcoming filing season. The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing tax returns on Jan. 29, so lawmakers are looking to move the bill as quickly as possible.

Meeting that goal may prove difficult as lawmakers are already racing to finish their spending bills and are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-border-security-joe-biden-55da358910d67622c7f4289666979f63">considering a bill</a>&nbsp;focused on both aiding Israel, and Ukraine and stemming the flow of migrants entering the country at the U.S.-Mexico border. One option would be for leaders in the House and Senate to attach the measure to one of those top-priority bills.

In forging the agreement, Democratic negotiators were focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but only $1,600 is refundable, which makes it available to parents who owe little to nothing in federal income taxes. The bill would incrementally increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank and advocacy group, projected that about 16 million children in low-income families would benefit from the child tax credit expansion.

“Given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Wyden said in a statement announcing the deal.

Republicans were focused on tax breaks for businesses that they said would help grow the economy. The tax breaks in the bill would generally align their expiration date — the end of 2025 — with many of the other tax cuts that were approved in 2017.

Most notably, the bill would give companies of all sizes the ability to deduct research and development costs immediately rather than over the course of five years. It would also allow businesses to fully deduct the purchase of equipment, machinery and technology. And, the bill also provides more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.

Smith said the agreement “strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he supported the tax package and “that there are many things in it both sides can celebrate.” He praised the inclusion of an increased tax credit for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for low-income households, and he said he could not have supported the package without it.

“The low-income housing tax credit is one of the most effective tools in existence to increase the supply of affordable housing," Schumer said. “This package will make this credit far more generous and far more easy to access.”

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was expected to meet with Smith on Tuesday to discuss the tax agreement.

Some lawmakers have insisted that any tax extensions be paid for so as not to add to projected deficits. The authors of the agreement attempt to do that by speeding up the demise of the employee retention tax credit. Under current law, businesses had until April 15 of next year to claim the credit. The bill would bar additional claims after Jan. 31 of this year. It also would increase penalties for tax preparers failing to undertake due diligence in submitting those COVID-19-related claims.

The tax credit was designed to make it easier for businesses to keep their employees on the payroll at a time when COVID-19 was keeping people at home and away from stores, hotels and restaurants. The IRS in September announced a moratorium in processing new claims through at least the end of the year, following concerns that a substantial share of new claims from the aging program were ineligible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641231882156.png" alt="File photo U.S. capitol -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. capitol -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairmen of the top tax policy committees in Congress announced a bipartisan agreement Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credits-program-ends-5ded3907c72ee0c3ad8a067a29d6b2c0">enhance the child tax credit</a>&nbsp;and revive a variety of tax breaks for businesses, a combination designed to attract support from lawmakers of both political parties.The roughly $78 billion in tax cuts would be paid for by more quickly ending a tax break Congress approved during the COVID-19 pandemic that encouraged businesses to keep employees on their payroll.The agreement was announced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-wyden">Sen. Ron Wyden</a>, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-smith">Rep. Jason Smith</a>, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The lawmakers have been negotiating for months on a tax package that would address an array of priorities before lawmakers turn their focus to election season.Wyden said his goal is to gain approval of the measure in time for businesses and families to benefit during the upcoming filing season. The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing tax returns on Jan. 29, so lawmakers are looking to move the bill as quickly as possible.Meeting that goal may prove difficult as lawmakers are already racing to finish their spending bills and are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-border-security-joe-biden-55da358910d67622c7f4289666979f63">considering a bill</a>&nbsp;focused on both aiding Israel, and Ukraine and stemming the flow of migrants entering the country at the U.S.-Mexico border. One option would be for leaders in the House and Senate to attach the measure to one of those top-priority bills.In forging the agreement, Democratic negotiators were focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but only $1,600 is refundable, which makes it available to parents who owe little to nothing in federal income taxes. The bill would incrementally increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns.The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank and advocacy group, projected that about 16 million children in low-income families would benefit from the child tax credit expansion.“Given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Wyden said in a statement announcing the deal.Republicans were focused on tax breaks for businesses that they said would help grow the economy. The tax breaks in the bill would generally align their expiration date — the end of 2025 — with many of the other tax cuts that were approved in 2017.Most notably, the bill would give companies of all sizes the ability to deduct research and development costs immediately rather than over the course of five years. It would also allow businesses to fully deduct the purchase of equipment, machinery and technology. And, the bill also provides more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.Smith said the agreement “strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he supported the tax package and “that there are many things in it both sides can celebrate.” He praised the inclusion of an increased tax credit for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for low-income households, and he said he could not have supported the package without it.“The low-income housing tax credit is one of the most effective tools in existence to increase the supply of affordable housing," Schumer said. “This package will make this credit far more generous and far more easy to access.”Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was expected to meet with Smith on Tuesday to discuss the tax agreement.Some lawmakers have insisted that any tax extensions be paid for so as not to add to projected deficits. The authors of the agreement attempt to do that by speeding up the demise of the employee retention tax credit. Under current law, businesses had until April 15 of next year to claim the credit. The bill would bar additional claims after Jan. 31 of this year. It also would increase penalties for tax preparers failing to undertake due diligence in submitting those COVID-19-related claims.The tax credit was designed to make it easier for businesses to keep their employees on the payroll at a time when COVID-19 was keeping people at home and away from stores, hotels and restaurants. The IRS in September announced a moratorium in processing new claims through at least the end of the year, following concerns that a substantial share of new claims from the aging program were ineligible.

What's in the new $78 billion congressional tax plan

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person was injured in a fire on Tuesday in Johnson County.

Just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday crews responded to a house fire in 21300 block of W 51st Street in the city of Shawnee, according to a media release.

Fist responders found a large amount of smoke and a working fire. Firefighters located and rescued one patient who was found inside of the home.  The patient was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

An investigation determined that the fire was accidental and caused by unattended cooking. Fire investigators also did not find any working smoke alarms inside the home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705507408808.png" alt="Photos Shawnee Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Shawnee Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—One person was injured in a fire on Tuesday in Johnson County.Just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday crews responded to a house fire in 21300 block of W 51st Street in the city of Shawnee, according to a media release.Fist responders found a large amount of smoke and a working fire. Firefighters located and rescued one patient who was found inside of the home. The patient was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705507364048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>An investigation determined that the fire was accidental and caused by unattended cooking. Fire investigators also did not find any working smoke alarms inside the home.

One in critical condition after fire at Kansas home

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at the private London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday.

Moments after news of Kate's hospitalization was released, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III would undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. The palace said that the king’s condition was benign.

The palace said that the 75-year-old monarch has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate “in common with thousands of men each year.”

Though it is unusual for members of the royal family to offer much detail on their health, the publicity about Charles' revelation is certain to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.

A series of events and meetings on the monarch’s schedule will now be postponed, and the announcement can be seen also be seen as offering the explanation for the timing of the announcement on Charles. Foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet had been due to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland later this week.

The palace didn’t offer further details on the princess of Wales' hospitalization, but confirmed that her condition was noncancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was previously hospitalized while pregnant after suffering from severe morning sickness.

The medical issues come after a turbulent few years for the royal family, with the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II a few months later and the coronation of Charles in 2023.

The princess, the former Kate Middleton, is expected to return to public duties after Easter. The 42-year-old future queen was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," Kensington Palace said. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."

The palace said that Kate, the wife of Prince William, wished to apologize for postponing her upcoming engagements.

“She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the palace said.

A royal by choice — not birth — Kate is the daughter of a flight attendant and a flight dispatcher. Born in Reading, England, on Jan. 9, 1982, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton grew up with a younger sister, Pippa, and a younger brother, James.

The family is from a well-to-do area of Berkshire, west of London, and moved to Jordan when Kate was 2 years old because of her father’s work. They returned to England in 1986, and Kate attended the exclusive Marlborough College, where she was active in sports such as tennis.

She first met Prince William, the elder son of the late Princess Diana and Charles, at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family. Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye — the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.

She was among the royals who appeared at the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705510328041.png" alt="King Charges III during his annual Christmas address-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>King Charges III during his annual Christmas address-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at the private London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday.Moments after news of Kate's hospitalization was released, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III would undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. The palace said that the king’s condition was benign.The palace said that the 75-year-old monarch has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate “in common with thousands of men each year.”Though it is unusual for members of the royal family to offer much detail on their health, the publicity about Charles' revelation is certain to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.A series of events and meetings on the monarch’s schedule will now be postponed, and the announcement can be seen also be seen as offering the explanation for the timing of the announcement on Charles. Foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet had been due to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland later this week.The palace didn’t offer further details on the princess of Wales' hospitalization, but confirmed that her condition was noncancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was previously hospitalized while pregnant after suffering from severe morning sickness.The medical issues come after a turbulent few years for the royal family, with the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II a few months later and the coronation of Charles in 2023.The princess, the former Kate Middleton, is expected to return to public duties after Easter. The 42-year-old future queen was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," Kensington Palace said. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."The palace said that Kate, the wife of Prince William, wished to apologize for postponing her upcoming engagements.“She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the palace said.A royal by choice — not birth — Kate is the daughter of a flight attendant and a flight dispatcher. Born in Reading, England, on Jan. 9, 1982, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton grew up with a younger sister, Pippa, and a younger brother, James.The family is from a well-to-do area of Berkshire, west of London, and moved to Jordan when Kate was 2 years old because of her father’s work. They returned to England in 1986, and Kate attended the exclusive Marlborough College, where she was active in sports such as tennis.She first met Prince William, the elder son of the late Princess Diana and Charles, at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family. Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye — the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.She was among the royals who appeared at the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham.

Palace: Princess of Wales hospitalized, King Charles to have treatment

MANHATTAN— K-State has been experiencing a disruption to certain network systems, including VPN, K-State Today emails, and videos on Canvas, or Mediasite, according to a statement from the university.

Upon detection, university IT took immediate steps to investigate the disruption, isolating the areas of concern. The university confirmed Tuesday evening that these disruptions are the result of a recent cybersecurity incident.

The impacted systems were taken offline and will remain offline for the immediate future as the investigation continues. This will also include select shared drives and printers, as well as university listservs.&nbsp;

"Our top priority is to address this issue promptly and efficiently, as we understand the importance of maintaining business and academic continuity during this time. We will keep you informed as the investigation continues to ensure your engagement with the university is uninterrupted."

"Please rest assured that we are dedicating significant resources to bring involved systems back online quickly and safely. Additionally, we have engaged third-party IT forensic experts to assist us in the ongoing investigation efforts."

"During this time, it is critical that we all remain diligent and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/it/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-awareness/">cybersecurity best practices and trainings</a>. If you notice anything suspicious as you engage with university technology, students should reach out to the IT help desk. Faculty and staff should reach out to their departmental IT points of contact."&nbsp;

"University leaders are arranging meetings with departmental contacts around business processes and operations that may be impacted to ensure continuity. If you have any questions, please refer those to your Dean or Vice President."

"Interim Provost Mercer has issued guidance to academic deans to share with their department heads and faculty regarding academic continuity, including sharing alternative&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/tlc/teaching_resources/video_resources.html">video resources</a>&nbsp;given the disruption to Mediasite. "

The university will continue to communications at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/update">k-state.edu/update</a>. The university will not be able to share information that could compromise that investigation.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN— K-State has been experiencing a disruption to certain network systems, including VPN, K-State Today emails, and videos on Canvas, or Mediasite, according to a statement from the university.Upon detection, university IT took immediate steps to investigate the disruption, isolating the areas of concern. The university confirmed Tuesday evening that these disruptions are the result of a recent cybersecurity incident.The impacted systems were taken offline and will remain offline for the immediate future as the investigation continues. This will also include select shared drives and printers, as well as university listservs.&nbsp;"Our top priority is to address this issue promptly and efficiently, as we understand the importance of maintaining business and academic continuity during this time. We will keep you informed as the investigation continues to ensure your engagement with the university is uninterrupted.""Please rest assured that we are dedicating significant resources to bring involved systems back online quickly and safely. Additionally, we have engaged third-party IT forensic experts to assist us in the ongoing investigation efforts." "During this time, it is critical that we all remain diligent and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/it/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-awareness/">cybersecurity best practices and trainings</a>. If you notice anything suspicious as you engage with university technology, students should reach out to the IT help desk. Faculty and staff should reach out to their departmental IT points of contact."&nbsp;"University leaders are arranging meetings with departmental contacts around business processes and operations that may be impacted to ensure continuity. If you have any questions, please refer those to your Dean or Vice President.""Interim Provost Mercer has issued guidance to academic deans to share with their department heads and faculty regarding academic continuity, including sharing alternative&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/tlc/teaching_resources/video_resources.html">video resources</a>&nbsp;given the disruption to Mediasite. "The university will continue to communications at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/update">k-state.edu/update</a>. The university will not be able to share information that could compromise that investigation.&nbsp;

K-State working to correct cybersecurity incident

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary is over.&nbsp;

The U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force arrested 50-year-old James Thompson, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal's Service

On Nov. 10, authorities discovered Thompson was missing. A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of escape from custody.&nbsp;

He is currently back in federal custody. Thompson was serving a sentence of 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud at the time of his escape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699585891299.png" alt="Thompson-photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons" />
 <figcaption>Thompson-photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary is over.&nbsp;The U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force arrested 50-year-old James Thompson, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal's ServiceOn Nov. 10, authorities discovered Thompson was missing. A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of escape from custody.&nbsp;He is currently back in federal custody. Thompson was serving a sentence of 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud at the time of his escape.

Inmate who escaped Kan. penitentiary camp captured

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas court system needs at least $2.6 million in additional funds to recover from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cybersecurity-problem-network-offline-ba6c2c1979fd58869cc5d4fb1aed501c">an October cyberattack</a>&nbsp;that prevented the electronic filing of documents and blocked online access to records for weeks, the state's top judicial official told legislators Tuesday.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert included the figure in a written statement ahead of her testimony before a joint meeting of the Kansas House and Senate Judiciary committees. The Republican-controlled Legislature must approve the funding, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly also must sign off.

Luckert's written statement said the courts needed the money not only to cover the costs of bringing multiple computer systems back online but to pay vendors, improve cybersecurity and hire three additional cybersecurity officials. She also said the price tag could rise.

“This amount does not include several things: recovery costs we will incur but cannot yet estimate; notification costs that will be expended to notify individuals if their personal identifiable information has been compromised; and any services, like credit-monitoring, that the branch may decide to provide for the victims,” Luckert's statement said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cybersecurity-problem-network-offline-4b6df97e1563c86e03ce531f4e12e80a">The attack</a>&nbsp;occurred Oct. 12. Judicial branch officials have blamed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cyberattack-hack-network-offline-097a11cfa9de552ec5a9ea49b500d3d6">a ransomware group</a>&nbsp;based in Russia, saying it stole data and threatened to post it on a dark website if its demands were not met.

Judicial branch officials have not spelled out the attackers' demands. However, they confirmed earlier this month that no ransom was paid after responding to an Associated Press request for invoices since Oct. 12, which showed as much.

Luckert said little about the costs of the cyberattack during Tuesday's joint committee meeting and did not mention the $2.6 million figure. She and other judicial branch officials also met with the House committee in private for about 15 minutes to discuss more sensitive security issues.

“The forensic investigation is ongoing,” she said during her public testimony to both committees.

Luckert said courts' costs include buying a new firewall as well as software and hardware. She said the court included the three new cybersecurity jobs in its proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 but now wants to be able to hire them in April, May or June.

State Rep. Stephen Owens, a Republican from rural central Kansas who serves on both the House judiciary and budget committees, said the courts are asking for “an awful lot of money” because of the cyberattack.

“That being said, I also think that we have to prioritize cybersecurity,” he said after Tuesday's meeting. “We have to prioritize safeguarding of the information that we store on behalf of Kansans.”

Separately, Kelly is seeking $1.5 million to staff an around-the-clock, 12-person cybersecurity operations center, hire an official to oversee the state's strategy for protecting data and hire someone to create a statewide data privacy program.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662999292005.png" alt="Photo by Blaise Mesa&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Blaise Mesa&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas court system needs at least $2.6 million in additional funds to recover from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cybersecurity-problem-network-offline-ba6c2c1979fd58869cc5d4fb1aed501c">an October cyberattack</a>&nbsp;that prevented the electronic filing of documents and blocked online access to records for weeks, the state's top judicial official told legislators Tuesday.State Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert included the figure in a written statement ahead of her testimony before a joint meeting of the Kansas House and Senate Judiciary committees. The Republican-controlled Legislature must approve the funding, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly also must sign off.Luckert's written statement said the courts needed the money not only to cover the costs of bringing multiple computer systems back online but to pay vendors, improve cybersecurity and hire three additional cybersecurity officials. She also said the price tag could rise.“This amount does not include several things: recovery costs we will incur but cannot yet estimate; notification costs that will be expended to notify individuals if their personal identifiable information has been compromised; and any services, like credit-monitoring, that the branch may decide to provide for the victims,” Luckert's statement said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cybersecurity-problem-network-offline-4b6df97e1563c86e03ce531f4e12e80a">The attack</a>&nbsp;occurred Oct. 12. Judicial branch officials have blamed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cyberattack-hack-network-offline-097a11cfa9de552ec5a9ea49b500d3d6">a ransomware group</a>&nbsp;based in Russia, saying it stole data and threatened to post it on a dark website if its demands were not met.Judicial branch officials have not spelled out the attackers' demands. However, they confirmed earlier this month that no ransom was paid after responding to an Associated Press request for invoices since Oct. 12, which showed as much.Luckert said little about the costs of the cyberattack during Tuesday's joint committee meeting and did not mention the $2.6 million figure. She and other judicial branch officials also met with the House committee in private for about 15 minutes to discuss more sensitive security issues.“The forensic investigation is ongoing,” she said during her public testimony to both committees.Luckert said courts' costs include buying a new firewall as well as software and hardware. She said the court included the three new cybersecurity jobs in its proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 but now wants to be able to hire them in April, May or June.State Rep. Stephen Owens, a Republican from rural central Kansas who serves on both the House judiciary and budget committees, said the courts are asking for “an awful lot of money” because of the cyberattack.“That being said, I also think that we have to prioritize cybersecurity,” he said after Tuesday's meeting. “We have to prioritize safeguarding of the information that we store on behalf of Kansans.”Separately, Kelly is seeking $1.5 million to staff an around-the-clock, 12-person cybersecurity operations center, hire an official to oversee the state's strategy for protecting data and hire someone to create a statewide data privacy program.

Top official: Kansas courts need at least $2.6 million to recover from cyberattack

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly fire on Tuesday in Kansas City.

Just after 9a.m., crews responded to the report of a fire in the 3300 block of Oakland Avenue, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 Crews were alerted by other residents of a child trapped in the home. Offensive interior operations were initiated, and crews quickly found the child and removed him from the fire.

EMS transported the 4-year-old to Children's Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; As a precaution, EMS transported the other occupants, two adults and three children to KU Medical Center for evaluation. Officials released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705438086053.png" alt="Investigators on the scene of the deadly fire-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Investigators on the scene of the deadly fire-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly fire on Tuesday in Kansas City.Just after 9a.m., crews responded to the report of a fire in the 3300 block of Oakland Avenue, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. Crews were alerted by other residents of a child trapped in the home. Offensive interior operations were initiated, and crews quickly found the child and removed him from the fire.EMS transported the 4-year-old to Children's Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; As a precaution, EMS transported the other occupants, two adults and three children to KU Medical Center for evaluation. Officials released no additional details.

4-year-old dies from injuries after fire in Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY —One person was injured in an accident involving a State Trooper just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Jackson County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Dodge Ram driven by Jeremiah D. Buckner, 32, Buckner, Missouri, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Blue Springs exit.

The pickup traveled off the road, struck a concrete media and the drivers side rear of a 2021 Dodge MSHP vehicle that was stationary with emergency lights activated and behind a 2020 Ford driven by Jeffrey A. Napier, 43, Warrenton, Missouri, that had been involved in a previous crash.

After impact with the trooper's vehicle, the pickup struck the Ford from the earlier crash.

CIC Fire transported Harrison to Centerpoint Hospital. Napier and&nbsp; Trooper Matthew J. Hanrahan, 40, Lee's Summit, were not transported but the MSHP reported he will be sore.&nbsp; The estimated damage to the patrol car is $20,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705453137719.png" alt="View of crash scene -KC Scout" />
 <figcaption>View of crash scene -KC Scout</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —One person was injured in an accident involving a State Trooper just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Jackson County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Dodge Ram driven by Jeremiah D. Buckner, 32, Buckner, Missouri, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Blue Springs exit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705454875916.png" alt="Photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>The pickup traveled off the road, struck a concrete media and the drivers side rear of a 2021 Dodge MSHP vehicle that was stationary with emergency lights activated and behind a 2020 Ford driven by Jeffrey A. Napier, 43, Warrenton, Missouri, that had been involved in a previous crash.After impact with the trooper's vehicle, the pickup struck the Ford from the earlier crash.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705453113078.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CIC Fire transported Harrison to Centerpoint Hospital. Napier and&nbsp; Trooper Matthew J. Hanrahan, 40, Lee's Summit, were not transported but the MSHP reported he will be sore.&nbsp; The estimated damage to the patrol car is $20,000.

Pickup struck State Trooper's vehicle at scene of earlier crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita and searching for a suspect.

Just after 5a.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp; responded to a 911 call in the 1000 block of S. Market in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers found no victim or witness. 

A short time later, officers were dispatched to a call in the 900 block of S. Market Street where they discovered a man with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported the victim in critical condition to an area hospital. He was pronounced deceased at 6:00 a.m.

Police have no suspect is in custody and have not released the name of the victim.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita and searching for a suspect.Just after 5a.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp; responded to a 911 call in the 1000 block of S. Market in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers found no victim or witness. A short time later, officers were dispatched to a call in the 900 block of S. Market Street where they discovered a man with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported the victim in critical condition to an area hospital. He was pronounced deceased at 6:00 a.m.Police have no suspect is in custody and have not released the name of the victim.

Police investigating deadly Kansas shooting

JERUSALEM (AP)— Two Israeli men who were captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack have been confirmed dead after the militant group released a video saying they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

A forum for families of hostages released statements Tuesday confirming that Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, had died in captivity in Gaza. They did not say how the men died.

The two were kidnapped from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-war-village-11396912de483148398800aa7914d674">Kibbutz Be’eri</a>, one of several communities near Gaza that Hamas and other militants overran after breaking through Israel’s border defenses. The attack ignited the war in Gaza, which is still raging.

Hamas released a video on Monday showing Sharabi and Svirsky giving statements on camera, likely under duress, followed by images of what appeared to be their dead bodies. It said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, said Monday that the army had feared for their lives. He said Israeli forces had struck a building near where the hostages were being held but did not know their location at the time.

Hamas and other militants captured some 250 people in the Oct. 7 attack. More than 100 were released in November during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Most of the rest are still in captivity.

Hamas has said no more hostages will be released until there is a permanent cease-fire.

Meanwhile, medicine for hostages was en route to Gaza on Wednesday after Qatar and France mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas — the first agreement between the two since a weeklong cease-fire broke down in November.

The deal came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes</a>&nbsp;in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

The United States launched the third strike&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">in recent days</a>&nbsp;against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, according to a U.S. official. The Houthis have attacked shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, saying they seek to halt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas</a>.

In northern Gaza, Palestinian militants battled Israeli forces and launched a barrage of rockets from farther south. The Palestinian death toll rose to 24,285 people, Gaza's Health Ministry said Tuesday. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Hamas' Oct. 7 attack</a>&nbsp;that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by the militants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705462505185.png" alt="Yossi Sharabi photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a>" />
 <figcaption>Yossi Sharabi photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a></figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP)— Two Israeli men who were captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack have been confirmed dead after the militant group released a video saying they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.A forum for families of hostages released statements Tuesday confirming that Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, had died in captivity in Gaza. They did not say how the men died.The two were kidnapped from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-war-village-11396912de483148398800aa7914d674">Kibbutz Be’eri</a>, one of several communities near Gaza that Hamas and other militants overran after breaking through Israel’s border defenses. The attack ignited the war in Gaza, which is still raging.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705462624278.png" alt="Itai Svirsky -photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a>" />
 <figcaption>Itai Svirsky -photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Hamas released a video on Monday showing Sharabi and Svirsky giving statements on camera, likely under duress, followed by images of what appeared to be their dead bodies. It said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, said Monday that the army had feared for their lives. He said Israeli forces had struck a building near where the hostages were being held but did not know their location at the time.Hamas and other militants captured some 250 people in the Oct. 7 attack. More than 100 were released in November during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Most of the rest are still in captivity.Hamas has said no more hostages will be released until there is a permanent cease-fire.Meanwhile, medicine for hostages was en route to Gaza on Wednesday after Qatar and France mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas — the first agreement between the two since a weeklong cease-fire broke down in November.The deal came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes</a>&nbsp;in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.The United States launched the third strike&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">in recent days</a>&nbsp;against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, according to a U.S. official. The Houthis have attacked shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, saying they seek to halt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas</a>.In northern Gaza, Palestinian militants battled Israeli forces and launched a barrage of rockets from farther south. The Palestinian death toll rose to 24,285 people, Gaza's Health Ministry said Tuesday. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Hamas' Oct. 7 attack</a>&nbsp;that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by the militants.

Two more hostages confirmed dead in Gaza

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a weekend murder near a fast-food restaurant in Kansas.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, police responded to the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in the 13330 W. 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa on the report of an armed disturbance.

According to a 911 caller, one person was shot at the location. When officers arrived, they located a man later identified as&nbsp;21-year-old Markese D. Gleghorn of Lenexa inside a vehicle who had been shot. Officers attempted life-saving measures however Geighorn was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A few minutes after this initial call, police received another call from an individual later identified as 24-year-old&nbsp;Dmariea Valentino Avance who said he was involved in the disturbance. Officers responded to an apartment in the 12700 block of W. 88th Circle where they took Avane into custody without incident.

&nbsp;Avance is being held in Johnson County on $500,000 bond on a requested charges of first-degree murder, according to online jail records.  He was scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charge Tuesday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705355537122.png" alt="Avance-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Avance-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a weekend murder near a fast-food restaurant in Kansas.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, police responded to the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in the 13330 W. 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa on the report of an armed disturbance.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705317718200.png" alt="Police on the scene of the deadly shooting investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the deadly shooting investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>According to a 911 caller, one person was shot at the location. When officers arrived, they located a man later identified as&nbsp;21-year-old Markese D. Gleghorn of Lenexa inside a vehicle who had been shot. Officers attempted life-saving measures however Geighorn was pronounced deceased at the scene.A few minutes after this initial call, police received another call from an individual later identified as 24-year-old&nbsp;Dmariea Valentino Avance who said he was involved in the disturbance. Officers responded to an apartment in the 12700 block of W. 88th Circle where they took Avane into custody without incident.&nbsp;Avance is being held in Johnson County on $500,000 bond on a requested charges of first-degree murder, according to online jail records. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charge Tuesday afternoon.

Suspect who called 911 after deadly Kan. shooting identified

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle near 126th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;The driver was identified as Jose Arturo Conejo, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas. 

 During the stop, a deputy observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.   Deputies discovered more drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. 

 The driver was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705410391353.png" alt="Conejo-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Conejo-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle near 126th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;The driver was identified as Jose Arturo Conejo, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas. During the stop, a deputy observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Deputies discovered more drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. The driver was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

Kan. deputy observes drug paraphernalia during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-immigration-gop-147d96fd00aa4c56e2cbe6074eceb874">iron grip</a>&nbsp;on the Republican Party has been clear since the day he announced he would make another run for the White House 14 months ago. It can be seen in the party's ideological shift even further to the right on cultural issues and, especially, on immigration policy.

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall used his social media account to make a statement about Trump's landslide win in Iowa.

Iowa Republicans were a clear reflection of that on Monday night, delivering the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">an emphatic victory</a>. They channeled his anger, and his view that basically everything&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has done has been a “disaster.” About 9 in 10 voters said they want upheaval or substantial change in how the government operates, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses.

As clear-cut as his win was, though, Iowa has not historically played the role of kingmaker in the Republican nominating process. New Hampshire's voters don't take their cues from Iowa.

This was the least suspenseful Iowa caucus in modern memory because Trump has essentially been running as an incumbent president. He’s convinced many Republicans he didn’t really lose the 2020 election to Biden, repeatedly making false claims, and has dominated the race the way someone still in office does.

He traveled sparingly to the state, holding a modest number of rallies. He spurned candidate debates. He chose to appear at court hearings as a defendant in his legal cases in New York and Washington rather than speak to Iowa voters in the final days before the voting.

The former president, who remains the party's dominant favorite, clearly wants to move on to the general election as quickly as possible. In his victory speech, he tried to portray the race as all but over, and a candidate known for his propensity for division asked his party and the nation to come together, praising rivals he had spent months denigrating. But Iowa winnows the field more than it determines the winner.

Inevitable can be a dangerous word, especially in New Hampshire, which holds its primary in next week.

New Hampshire has famously delivered upsets in both parties. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley quipped that New Hampshire “corrects” Iowa. Bush felt New Hampshire's sting in 2000 when Senator John McCain defeated him. So did former vice president Walter Mondale when Senator Gary Hart of Colorado scored an upset in the Democratic race in 1984.

With its more moderate, educated electorate, New Hampshire presents Trump’s rivals with possibly their best opportunity to slow his march. Haley is hoping for a win there or at least a very strong showing, as is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who edged Haley out for second place in Iowa but trailed Trump by about 30 points.

After that comes a weird political lull — with the next major competitive race in South Carolina on Feb. 24.

But plenty can happen during that time. The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 8 is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-2024-election-0baac5ba0c1868e437e365af17eeab24">scheduled to hear</a>&nbsp;arguments in a case challenging whether a constitutional clause banning those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office applies to Trump. The high court may also weigh in on whether presidential immunity protects Trump from federal charges for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss.

The criminal trial, in that case, is scheduled to start on March 5 — Super Tuesday — when 14 states vote in the presidential nominating process. Trump's strength among Republican voters is beyond dispute, but the road is long and could be bumpy.

Iowans had something on their minds, but it wasn’t jobs, taxes or business regulations.

About 4 in 10 caucus-goers said immigration was their top issue, compared to 1 in 3 picking the economy, according to VoteCast. Other priorities like foreign policy, energy and abortion ranked even lower.

Indeed, about two-thirds of caucusgoers said they felt their finances were holding steady or improving. But the voters still want major changes — 3 in 10 want a total upheaval of how the federal government runs while another 6 in 10 want substantial changes. Additionally, Trump faces multiple criminal charges, 6 in 10 caucusgoers don’t have confidence in the U.S. legal system.

It adds up to a portrait of a slice of the electorate eager to challenge core democratic institutions in the U.S.

Flush with more than $100 million in cash and fresh off a blowout reelection victory, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis entered the 2024 Republican presidential contest projecting himself as the heir to a MAGA political brand that a diminished Trump could no longer effectively carry.

Eight months and tens of millions of dollars later, DeSantis posed little threat to the former president in Iowa. Still, he vowed to continue his campaign and said he had “punched his ticket" out of Iowa with his second-place finish.

Despite more than $55 million in pro-DeSantis advertising spending, the Florida governor only narrowly bested Haley.

DeSantis has been dogged by negative stories about profligate spending, including DeSantis’ preference for flying private planes.

His next challenge will be whether donors will continue to support him.

More than half of Haley’s voters had at least a college degree and roughly half of DeSantis’ did, according to VoteCast. But only about 2 in 10 of Trump’s did.

Education has been a major dividing line among white voters during the Trump era. Iowa confirms what polling has indicated during the primary — that the education divide is also splitting the GOP.

That hints at a possible weakness for Trump in November, should he be the nominee. A greater share of the voting public has at least a bachelor’s degree now than in 2016, and that share rises every year as degrees become more popular.

Another indication of vulnerability for Trump came in the suburbs, which tend to have the highest levels of education. Only about 4 in 10 caucusgoers there supported him. The suburbs were pivotal in Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump.

Abrasive, often grating and very online — Vivek Ramaswamy’s quixotic bid for the White House has come across as a millennial distillation of Trump’s Make America Great Again political movement.

Ramaswamy rapped along to verses of Eminem, delighted in trolling his rivals and often sought to out-Trump Trump with his brash rhetoric. That performative aspect helped the wealthy 38-year-old entrepreneur gain considerable attention in the early days of the Republican White House contest.

But it also proved to wear thin, perhaps summed up best when former New Jersey governor Chris Christie called him the “most obnoxious blowhard in America” during a debate.

As returns from Iowa’s caucus posted, Ramaswamy seemed unlikely to reach double digits, and he suspended his campaign.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-immigration-gop-147d96fd00aa4c56e2cbe6074eceb874">iron grip</a>&nbsp;on the Republican Party has been clear since the day he announced he would make another run for the White House 14 months ago. It can be seen in the party's ideological shift even further to the right on cultural issues and, especially, on immigration policy.Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall used his social media account to make a statement about Trump's landslide win in Iowa.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are going to make America great again, AGAIN. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TRUMP2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TRUMP2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/tsuBoVydvm">https://t.co/tsuBoVydvm</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1747074435901702307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Iowa Republicans were a clear reflection of that on Monday night, delivering the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">an emphatic victory</a>. They channeled his anger, and his view that basically everything&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has done has been a “disaster.” About 9 in 10 voters said they want upheaval or substantial change in how the government operates, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses.As clear-cut as his win was, though, Iowa has not historically played the role of kingmaker in the Republican nominating process. New Hampshire's voters don't take their cues from Iowa.Here are some key takeaways:AN INCUMBENT CAMPAIGNThis was the least suspenseful Iowa caucus in modern memory because Trump has essentially been running as an incumbent president. He’s convinced many Republicans he didn’t really lose the 2020 election to Biden, repeatedly making false claims, and has dominated the race the way someone still in office does.He traveled sparingly to the state, holding a modest number of rallies. He spurned candidate debates. He chose to appear at court hearings as a defendant in his legal cases in New York and Washington rather than speak to Iowa voters in the final days before the voting.The former president, who remains the party's dominant favorite, clearly wants to move on to the general election as quickly as possible. In his victory speech, he tried to portray the race as all but over, and a candidate known for his propensity for division asked his party and the nation to come together, praising rivals he had spent months denigrating. But Iowa winnows the field more than it determines the winner.TWISTS AND TURNS AHEADInevitable can be a dangerous word, especially in New Hampshire, which holds its primary in next week.New Hampshire has famously delivered upsets in both parties. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley quipped that New Hampshire “corrects” Iowa. Bush felt New Hampshire's sting in 2000 when Senator John McCain defeated him. So did former vice president Walter Mondale when Senator Gary Hart of Colorado scored an upset in the Democratic race in 1984.With its more moderate, educated electorate, New Hampshire presents Trump’s rivals with possibly their best opportunity to slow his march. Haley is hoping for a win there or at least a very strong showing, as is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who edged Haley out for second place in Iowa but trailed Trump by about 30 points.After that comes a weird political lull — with the next major competitive race in South Carolina on Feb. 24.But plenty can happen during that time. The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 8 is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-2024-election-0baac5ba0c1868e437e365af17eeab24">scheduled to hear</a>&nbsp;arguments in a case challenging whether a constitutional clause banning those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office applies to Trump. The high court may also weigh in on whether presidential immunity protects Trump from federal charges for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss.The criminal trial, in that case, is scheduled to start on March 5 — Super Tuesday — when 14 states vote in the presidential nominating process. Trump's strength among Republican voters is beyond dispute, but the road is long and could be bumpy.IT’S NOT THE ECONOMYIowans had something on their minds, but it wasn’t jobs, taxes or business regulations.About 4 in 10 caucus-goers said immigration was their top issue, compared to 1 in 3 picking the economy, according to VoteCast. Other priorities like foreign policy, energy and abortion ranked even lower.Indeed, about two-thirds of caucusgoers said they felt their finances were holding steady or improving. But the voters still want major changes — 3 in 10 want a total upheaval of how the federal government runs while another 6 in 10 want substantial changes. Additionally, Trump faces multiple criminal charges, 6 in 10 caucusgoers don’t have confidence in the U.S. legal system.It adds up to a portrait of a slice of the electorate eager to challenge core democratic institutions in the U.S.DESANTIS' DISMAL RETURN ON INVESTMENTFlush with more than $100 million in cash and fresh off a blowout reelection victory, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis entered the 2024 Republican presidential contest projecting himself as the heir to a MAGA political brand that a diminished Trump could no longer effectively carry.Reality soon intruded.Eight months and tens of millions of dollars later, DeSantis posed little threat to the former president in Iowa. Still, he vowed to continue his campaign and said he had “punched his ticket" out of Iowa with his second-place finish.Despite more than $55 million in pro-DeSantis advertising spending, the Florida governor only narrowly bested Haley.DeSantis has been dogged by negative stories about profligate spending, including DeSantis’ preference for flying private planes.His next challenge will be whether donors will continue to support him.THE EDUCATION DIVIDEMore than half of Haley’s voters had at least a college degree and roughly half of DeSantis’ did, according to VoteCast. But only about 2 in 10 of Trump’s did.Education has been a major dividing line among white voters during the Trump era. Iowa confirms what polling has indicated during the primary — that the education divide is also splitting the GOP.That hints at a possible weakness for Trump in November, should he be the nominee. A greater share of the voting public has at least a bachelor’s degree now than in 2016, and that share rises every year as degrees become more popular.Another indication of vulnerability for Trump came in the suburbs, which tend to have the highest levels of education. Only about 4 in 10 caucusgoers there supported him. The suburbs were pivotal in Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump.RAMASWAMY PUNCHED HIMSELF OUTAbrasive, often grating and very online — Vivek Ramaswamy’s quixotic bid for the White House has come across as a millennial distillation of Trump’s Make America Great Again political movement.Ramaswamy rapped along to verses of Eminem, delighted in trolling his rivals and often sought to out-Trump Trump with his brash rhetoric. That performative aspect helped the wealthy 38-year-old entrepreneur gain considerable attention in the early days of the Republican White House contest.But it also proved to wear thin, perhaps summed up best when former New Jersey governor Chris Christie called him the “most obnoxious blowhard in America” during a debate.As returns from Iowa’s caucus posted, Ramaswamy seemed unlikely to reach double digits, and he suspended his campaign.

Kansas U.S. Senator celebrates Trump landslide in Iowa

LABETTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that left a Kansas woman dead.

Just before 5p.m. January 13,&nbsp; sheriff's deputies and Kansas Wildlife and Parks officers responded to the incident at the Grand Osage Wildlife area&nbsp;16500 Saline Road in Oswego, according to the Labette County Sheriff.

The reporting person identified as Derek Hall of rural Oswego told deputies after finishing deer hunting, he and his wife returned to their vehicle. 

Hall stated that he laid his rifle down on the back seat of their pickup and attempted to unload it. When he took the rifle off safe it went off, striking his wife, 62-year-old Christina Hall. 

 Upon EMS arriving they immediately transported Christina Hall to Labette Health, where she died.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details on Tuesday.

LABETTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that left a Kansas woman dead.Just before 5p.m. January 13,&nbsp; sheriff's deputies and Kansas Wildlife and Parks officers responded to the incident at the Grand Osage Wildlife area&nbsp;16500 Saline Road in Oswego, according to the Labette County Sheriff.The reporting person identified as Derek Hall of rural Oswego told deputies after finishing deer hunting, he and his wife returned to their vehicle. Hall stated that he laid his rifle down on the back seat of their pickup and attempted to unload it. When he took the rifle off safe it went off, striking his wife, 62-year-old Christina Hall. Upon EMS arriving they immediately transported Christina Hall to Labette Health, where she died.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details on Tuesday.

Sheriff: Kansas woman dies in hunting accident

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that left seven without a place to live.

Just before 11:30a.m. Tuesday crews responded to the report of a house fire in the 3700 block of Garner Avenue in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders found smoke and fire showing from the 2 and half story home.

During the search of the home crews were able to find and remove the occupant's family dog.&nbsp; The dog was checked out on scene and appeared to be doing ok. Crews were able to get the fire under control at about noon.&nbsp; Red Cross is assisting two adults and five children.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705438296542.png" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that left seven without a place to live.Just before 11:30a.m. Tuesday crews responded to the report of a house fire in the 3700 block of Garner Avenue in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.First responders found smoke and fire showing from the 2 and half story home.During the search of the home crews were able to find and remove the occupant's family dog.&nbsp; The dog was checked out on scene and appeared to be doing ok. Crews were able to get the fire under control at about noon.&nbsp; Red Cross is assisting two adults and five children.&nbsp;

Dog rescued from KC house fire that displaced 2 adults, 5 kids

DOUGLAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Douglas County.

According to Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock., a Toyota Prius driven by&nbsp;Zipporah Koimburi, 48, Wakarusa, was westbound on North 1700 Road at E 50 Road.

The driver was negotiating a curve when the vehicle entered the opposite lane of travel and collided with an eastbound Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old Olathe woman.&nbsp;

Medics transported Koimburi to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka where she later died.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Douglas County.According to Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock., a Toyota Prius driven by&nbsp;Zipporah Koimburi, 48, Wakarusa, was westbound on North 1700 Road at E 50 Road.The driver was negotiating a curve when the vehicle entered the opposite lane of travel and collided with an eastbound Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old Olathe woman.&nbsp;Medics transported Koimburi to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka where she later died.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Kansas woman dies from injuries after head-on crash

JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. launched a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days, two U.S. officials said.

The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia, also on Tuesday, in the Red Sea. No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.

According to the U.S. officials, the overnight strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation. The Houthi attack on the Zografia occurred later Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405226113.png" alt="Photos U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photos U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. launched a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days, two U.S. officials said.The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia, also on Tuesday, in the Red Sea. No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405198142.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the U.S. officials, the overnight strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation. The Houthi attack on the Zografia occurred later Tuesday.This latest exchange suggested there has been no let-up in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the massive U.S. and British assault</a>&nbsp;on the group on Friday, bombing more than 60 targets in 28 locations using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Tuesday that addressing the ongoing Houthi threat was an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address to minimize impact on the global economy. And he said that the maritime attacks, coupled with ongoing threats from other Iran-backed militants in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon mean that allies must "be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage.”The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a pre-recorded statement that it fired after the ship’s crew refused to answer warning calls and that the vessel was heading for a port in Israel. According to the shipping tracking website Vessel Finder, Zografia was bound for Suez, Egypt.The Zografia, managed by a Greek firm, had no cargo onboard and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian. Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.Amid the latest attacks, U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a raid last week that saw two of its commandos go missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.The raid marks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.The attacks, U.S.-led retaliatory strikes and the raid all have raised tensions across the Middle East, which also saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-iran-strike-7939f337454578cc20da8ac15fc5b457">Iran conduct ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Syria</a>.The SEAL raid happened Thursday, with the commandos launching from the USS Lewis B. Puller backed by drones and helicopters, with the U.S. military's Central Command saying it took place in the Arabian Sea.The SEALs traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both remain missing.The SEALs found cruise and ballistic missile components, including propulsion and guidance devices, as well as warheads, Central Command said. It added that air defense parts also were found.“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” Central Command said in a statement.Images released by the U.S. military analyzed by the AP showed components resembling rocket motors and others previously seized. It also included what appeared to be an anti-ship cruise missile with a small turbojet engine, a type used by the Houthis and Iran.Also included in the photos was a warhead similarly seen in the Iranian anti-ship missiles, which are based off an earlier Chinese design, said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.“Looking at the size and the robustness of the thing, it looks a lot like an anti-ship warhead,” Hinz said.Hinz also noted the warhead in the photo has a sticker reading “GHAD” on it. Iran has an anti-ship missile called the Ghadir.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405243920.png" alt="The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained. -photo U.S. Central command" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained. -photo U.S. Central command</figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained.The Houthis have not acknowledged the seizure, and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Houthis' attacks.A United Nations resolution bans arms transfers to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Tehran has long denied arming the rebels, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-united-states-government-middle-east-65b99a04a99d2504fd1123fc8e4300cc">physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons back to Iran</a>.Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.U.S.-led airstrikes also targeted Houthi positions on Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;called the Gibraltar Eagle in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, further raising the risks in the conflict.\Meanwhile Tuesday, a missile struck the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.The ship — managed by a Greek firm— had no cargo on board and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian.Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors incidents in the Mideast's waterways, earlier acknowledged an attack in the vicinity of the Zografia.Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.U.S.-led airstrikes targeted Houthi positions on Friday and Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Aden, further raising the risks in the conflict.