Comment on NATO denies Taliban ascendant as Afghan toll mounts

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Eleven Yemeni employees of United Nations agencies have been detained by Yemen’s Houthi rebels under unclear circumstances, authorities said Friday, as the rebels face increasing financial pressure and airstrikes from a U. S.-led coalition. Others working for aid groups also likely have been taken. The detentions come as the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] But while gaining more attention internationally, the secretive group has cracked down at dissent at home, including recently sentencing 44 people to death. Regional officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to brief journalists, initially confirmed at least nine U.

Michael Mosley, a British TV doctor went missing on the Greek island of Symi on Wednesday while on vacation. Mosley is known for his appearances on U. K. programs such as This Morning and The One Show. The 67-year-old is a regular columnist in the Daily Mail and has presented several shows on diet and exercise, including the Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat?

The Traitors, Peacock’s reality TV competition, has revealed its cast for its upcoming Season 3, and one of the new stars will be British aristocrat Lord Ivar Mountbatten, second cousin to King Charles III and a direct descendent of Queen Victoria. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The Traitors, which operates similarly to a murder mystery show and a game of Mafia, has become extremely popular, and is Peacock’s most streamed unscripted original series to date.

LONDON — Prince William took a day out from royal duties on Friday to serve as an usher at the wedding of his friend Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster. The wedding of 33-year-old Grosvenor, one of Britain’s wealthiest landowners, to his partner Olivia Henson, 31, is one of the high-society events of the year in Britain. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] William, 41, arrived with his fellow ushers at Chester Cathedral in northwest England ahead of the midday service.

Amid intense criticism for his Israel-Gaza approach, President Joe Biden announced earlier this year the construction of a pier to deliver desperately-needed aid to the Strip amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment. But the $230 million pier, which should be re-anchored this week after it broke apart on May 28, has proven to be a hapless operation.

Washington — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, according to a person familiar with the matter. Congressional leaders last week formally invited Netanyahu to come speak, delivering the most recent show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza.