News in Brief (10-11-2017)

UN warns of massive famine if Yemen blockade not lifted

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 09: The U.N. humanitarian chief warned Wednesday that unless the Saudi-led military coalition lifts its blockade on Yemen the war-torn nation will face "the largest famine the world has seen for many decades, with millions of victims." Mark Lowcock told reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors that there must be an immediate resumption of regular air flights to the cities of Aden and Sanaa by the United Nations and its humanitarian partners. — AP

Sissi warns Iran to stop 'meddling' in region

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Nov 09: Egypt's president said Wednesday that Iran must stop "meddling" in the Middle East and the security of Arab Gulf countries must not be threatened, but he underscored that he does not want war and believes dialogue can resolve the region's crises. With his comments, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi threw his support behind Egypt's Gulf ally Saudi Arabia amid the kingdom's mounting tensions with Iran. — AP

Team rescues man after five days in deep glacier crevice

VIENNA, Nov 09: Austrian emergency teams have rescued a German mountaineer who spent five days in a deep glacier crevice after slipping. Officials say the man was found in the 30-meter (100-foot) -deep gap Thursday after he succeeded in making an emergency call from his cellphone following numerous failed attempts because of poor reception. State broadcaster ORF cites alpine rescue official Christoph Preimesberger as saying the man is only "relatively lightly hurt" considering the drop, with shoulder and foot injuries. — AP

Macron tours French naval base in Abu Dhabi near new Louvre

ABU DHABI, Nov 09: French President Emmanuel Macron is touring a French naval base in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. A military band played "La Marseillaise" and an honor guard met Macron on Thursday morning at the naval base at Abu Dhabi's Port Zayed. Macron later boarded and walked through the French frigate Jean Bart. The French naval base opened in 2009 and shows France's deepening military cooperation with the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. — AP

Fuel crisis hits Yemen's capital

SANAA, Nov 09: Hundreds of cars lined the main roads of Yemen's capital after the rebels who control the city ordered fuel stations to close on Wednesday, accusing merchants of taking advantage of a Saudi blockade to hike prices. A Saudi-led military coalition tightened its blockade in Yemen this week after a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels was intercepted near the Saudi capital. — AP