World News Briefs -- November 6, 2017



Reuters: Saudi-led forces close air, sea and land access to Yemen

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led military coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran.

The move, which follows the interception of a missile fired toward Riyadh on Saturday, is likely to worsen a humanitarian crisis in Yemen that according to the United Nations has pushed some seven million people to the brink of famine and left more than half a million infected with cholera.

“The Coalition Forces Command decided to temporarily close all Yemeni air, sea and land ports,” the coalition said in a statement on the Saudi state news agency SPA. It added that aid workers and humanitarian supplies would continue to be able to access and exit Yemen.

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MIDDLE EAST

Saudi-led coalition blames Iran for Houthi missile attack. Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of 'dangerous escalation' backed by Iran after missile intercept.

Iraqi PM raises flag at border crossing taken from ISIS.

Kurdish independence referendum: Iraq court rejects result.

Lebanon's Prime Minister resigns, plunging nation into new political crisis.

Saudi king swears in new ministers, replacing those detained.

Iran eases conditions of opposition leader's house arrest.

Israel holds bodies of five militants after tunnel blast, wants Hamas to return missing Israelis.

ASIA

Trump in Japan: 'We will not stand' for North Korean aggression. North Korea: US, Japan agree that 'all options' are on the table. Trump said ‘samurai’ Japan should have shot down overflying North Korean missiles.

China endorses Trump's Kim Jong Un remarks.

Japan to freeze assets of 35 North Korea individuals, entities.

N. Korea warns Trump about 'foolish remarks' before S. Korea visit.

Kim Jong-nam murder: New North Korea suspects named.

No cult of personality around Xi, says top China party academic.

Afghanistan overturns suspension of WhatsApp, Telegram.

Typhoon Damrey kills 49, destroys 116,000 homes in Vietnam.

AFRICA

Zimbabwe politics: Mugabe sacks 'disloyal' Mnangagwa. Zimbabwe's Mugabe fires VP, clears wife's way to top job.

Nigerian oil rebels told to give peace talks a chance.

Renegade Colonel surrenders in eastern Congo after clashes.

NGO accuses Libya coastguard over deaths in migrant rescue.

Conflict in South Sudan with hyperinflation, food insecurity threatening famine for 2018.

US diplomatic staff told to leave Mogadishu after 'specific' threat.

Liberia's Supreme Court suspends Weah-Boaki vote.

Zimbabwe court orders American held on charges of undermining Mugabe, subversion.

EUROPE

Carles Puigdemont: Ex-Catalan leader, four former ministers released with conditions. Puigdemont, ex-Catalan officials freed from jail in Belgium.

Sacked Catalan president condemns 'brutal judicial offensive'.

Ex-British PM Gordon Brown says U.S. lied about Iraq having WMDs.

China calls on France to ensure security of its citizens.

Italy probes deaths of 26 Nigerian women from migrant boats.

Hundreds of nationalist protesters arrested near Kremlin in Moscow.

Paradise Papers: Queen's private estate invested £10m in offshore funds.

AMERICAS

Texas church gunman sent threatening texts to in-laws, officials say.

House begins revising Republican tax bill to quell dissent.

U.S. restarts visa issuing in Turkey in first step to ease crisis.

Venezuelan opposition leader takes refuge in Chilean embassy. Venezuela opposition politician Freddy Guevara seeks refuge.

New Argentina probe says prosecutor Nisman was murdered.

Colombia signs $300m UN deal to fight cocaine production.

Tech, housing boom creates homeless crisis on U.S. West Coast.

Scattered NFL protests continue for ninth week.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Mattis looks to diplomacy as IS crumbles in Syria.

Mattis faces questions from allies on Islamic State strategy.

Yemen hostage crisis claimed by IS ends with 35 dead.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Paradise Papers expose tax schemes of global elite.

Oil price rises to two-year high after Saudi Arabia purge.

Broadcom unveils tech sector's largest ever bid for rival.

Paradise Papers: Wilbur Ross says 'nothing improper' about Russia links.

Saudi billionaire Alwaleed's arrest rattles investors.

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