"Catastrophe" in Yemen: Daily Brief

Aid agencies are seeking urgent access for humanitarian supplies to Yemen, after the Saudi-led coalition closed all routes into the country - a situation the UN and Red Cross say is "catastrophic". From earlier today: Five years ago, Indians shocked by the brutality of a gang rape in Delhi called for an end to the silence around sexual violence and demanded criminal justice reforms. While there are stronger laws and policies in place today, much more is needed to ensure that police, doctors, and the courts treat survivors with dignity, a new HRW report has found. Voters in the US state of Virginia have made history by electing their first openly transgender state legislator. It was one of several Democrat victories in the first statewide elections since President Donald Trump came to power in January. Police in Russia have violently arrested a newspaper editor who had been critical of corruption around preparations for the 2018 Football World Cup. At least five African migrants died and more are missing off western Libya after a boat carrying about 140 people capsized. Some migrants refused rescue by the Libyan coast guard, and tried instead to swim to a German rescue vessel. The situation in Syria remains dire, with civilians still being rescued after a devastating siege in the city of Deir Ezzor, and torture for detainees in government detention still rife.