Ship comes under attack off coast of Yemen

JERUSALEM (AP) — A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden has come under attack, the latest assault carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The attack comes after the U.S. military said early Thursday an allied warship shot down a Houthi missile targeting a vessel the day before near the same area. The Houthis claimed both assaults, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the region over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In Thursday’s attack, a ship was targeted just over 25 kilometers southwest of Aden.

Andrew Tate’s trial on charges of rape and human trafficking can start, court rules

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A court in Romania’s capital has ruled that a trial can start in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The Bucharest Tribunal ruled that prosecutors’ case file against Tate met the legal criteria but did not set a date for the trial to begin. Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said the ruling will be appealed. Tate, was arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest along with his brother Tristan Tate and two Romanian women.

Palace: King Charles III will resume public duties next week after cancer treatment

LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will resume his public duties next week following treatment for cancer. Friday’s announcement comes almost three months after Charles took a break from public appearances to focus on his treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. The palace says Charles will make a public visit to a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, the first of several appearances he will make in coming weeks. One of his first major engagements will be hosting a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan, who will visit the U.K. in June. The palace didn’t provide an update on the king’s health or his treatment.

Paris crowns a new king of the crusty baguette in its annual bread-baking prize

PARIS (AP) — Paris has a new king of the crusty baguette. Baker Xavier Netry was chosen this week as the 31st winner of Paris’ annual “Grand Prix de la baguette” prize. His long loaf beat 172 others. The competing baguettes were evaluated for taste, look, texture, airiness and the quality of the baking. The jury included a deputy mayor, industry representatives, journalists and six Parisians that City Hall said were drawn at random. The Utopie bakery in Paris’ 11th district that Netry works for wins 4,000 euros ($4,290) and becomes one of the suppliers of the presidential Elysee Palace for a year.