NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
_1 Yemen war: Raging battles between forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, along the country’s west coast have displaced tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians, especially from the coastal province of Hodeida, an international rights group said in a report released Thursday. The Yemeni government offensive supported by ground troops and air cover from a Saudi-led coalition is part of attempts to regain control over rebel-held areas along the country’s west coast, Amnesty International said. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war pitting the coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015. The coalition aims to restore the government of self-exiled President Abed Rabu Mansour Hadi to power. The three-year stalemated war has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 3 million. _2 Jerusalem embassy: Paraguay’s government says President Horacio
Cartes will open the country’s new embassy to Israel in Jerusalem next week, following similar steps by the United States and Guatemala. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as their future capital and were infuriated by the embassy moves. Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv and have balked at moving them until the international legal status of the city has been resolved.
_3 Royal wedding: Ending days of speculation, Meghan Markle said Thursday that her father will not be able to attend her wedding to Prince Harry due to health problems. The news came as British military personnel rehearsed for a gala procession through Windsor that will follow Saturday’s ceremony, which will be televised live around the world. The palace has not revealed any details about Thomas Markle’s health issues, but the celebrity website TMZ says the 73-year-old retired Hollywood cinematographer is hospitalized in California after undergoing a procedure to clear blocked coronary arteries. _4 Kashmir cease-fire: The Indian government said it would halt operations against separatist militants in Jammu and Kashmir state during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began Thursday. It was the first time in 18 years that the Indian government declared a ceasefire for Ramadan in the territory. Over the past year, Kashmir has been sliding deeper into turmoil, with dozens of militants killed, huge protests erupting and a heavy sense of despair settling over the disputed territory. Kashmir, a Himalayan mountain valley known for spectacular beauty, has been submerged in bloody conflicts for more than 70 years. Both India and Pakistan claim it, and the battles over this area have killed tens of thousands of people. _5 Jailed American: A Utah man imprisoned in Venezuela for two years without a trial is making an emotional plea for Americans’ help getting out of a Caracas jail, saying in a clandestinely shot video that his life was threatened during a riot in the country’s most-notorious prison. In two 20-second videos shot on a cell phone, a visibly distraught Joshua Holt suggested that his patience is running out with the U.S. government, which has made his release a top priority in its dealings with Venezuela’s government. The 26-year-old traveled to Venezuela in 2016 to marry a fellow Mormon he met on the internet. Shortly afterward, the couple was arrested at her family’s apartment in Caracas after police said they found him stockpiling an assault weapon and grenades.