U.N. WARNS FAMINE LIKELY IN YEMEN
NATIONS» The U.N. UNITED humanitarian chief warns 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 Security Council on Wednesday that there must be an immediate resumption of regular air flights to the cities of Aden and Sanaa by the United Nations and its partner organizations and immediate access to all ports for food, fuel and medicine.
The coalition tightened its blockade in Yemen this week after a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels was intercepted near the Saudi capital. The U.N. said aid agencies were given no prior notice of the Saudi decision to shut down all land, air and seaports in Yemen.
Pollution creates “gas chamber” in India.
Thick toxic smog enveloped New Delhi for a second straight day Wednesday, forcing schools to shut down, halting traffic and sending residents scurrying to buy air purifiers and filtration masks.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the mega-city of about 20 million people, called the capital a “gas chamber” as his government sought meetings with adjoining states to address the issue.
The levels of the deadliest particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, which lodge deep in a person’s lungs, soared overnight on Nov. 8 to 726, according to a U.S. embassy monitor.
World Health Organization guidelines suggest exposure to levels of about 10, while anything less than 50 is considered healthy and levels above 300 are considered “hazardous.”
Efforts to capture, save endangered porpoise end.
CITY» Experts MEXICO said Wednesday they have suspended a program to capture and enclose the few remaining vaquita porpoises in Mexico’s Gulf of California, after the one they managed to catch died quickly in captivity.
Lorenzo Rojas, the lead scientist in the effort, described what may be the last close contact between humans and the world’s smallest porpoise, of which less than 30 remain. Rojas said he doubts there will be enough of the elusive porpoises left next year to even make an attempt to capture any.
The vaquita had been taken to a floating pen where experts had hoped to protect her, but the animal began to act oddly in obvious stress. The porpoise died about six hours after capture.
Developers denied height increase near Grand Canyon.
Residents of a small town near the Grand Canyon’s South Rim have rejected a building height increase, but it won’t stop developers from pursuing an expanse of retail shops, open space and lodging at the edge of town.
Voters in Tusayan turned down a ballot measure Tuesday to allow buildings up to 65 feet. Of the 131 people who cast ballots, 60 supported the measure and 71 opposed it.
The result was a blow to Italy-based Stilo Development Group USA, a major landowner that has eyed development in town since the late 1980s. Now, it must work within existing height guidelines.