The Taliban have released a British couple held in Afghanistan for over seven months on undisclosed charges. Analysts say this move on Friday is part of a broader effort to gain international recognition. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 76, lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and ran an education organization. They chose to stay after the Taliban took power in 2021. Qatar helped mediate their release. The Taliban have not explained why they detained the couple. In July, United Nations experts warned about their deteriorating health. Earlier this month, the Taliban reached a prisoner exchange agreement with U.S. envoys.

Qatar hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic nations in hopes of presenting a united response to Israel's attack on Hamas leaders last week in Doha. But leaders offered different views Monday about what to do, and the group agreed to take only minimal action. Israel has retaliated against Hamas and other militants in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and now Qatar. Before the summit, analysts floated possibly closing airspace to Israeli flights or downgrading ties with Israel. A final statement from the meeting only called on states to take measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against Palestinians.