06/08/2013 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today. Airlift from Yemen. The US and

Britain evacuate diplomatic staff amid fears of a significant terror

attack in the Arab nation. British and American citizens are also told

to leave immediately. Reports say Al-Qaeda was planning one of the

most serious plots against Western interests since 9/11.

Let's talk. Two days into his new job, Iran's president calls for

serious negotiations with the West over the country's controversial

nuclear programme. Also coming up, a silent killer in

eastern Canada. A python escapes from a pet shop and strangles two

children as they sleep. And China gets a taste for French

wine. But it is not just bottles they are snapping up, it is an

Hello and welcome to the programme. The US and UK are warning of an

extremely high terrorism threat in Yemen and have began evacuating

diplomatic staff following the sudden closure of 20 US embassies

and consulates on Sunday. Both countries advise citizens in Yemen

to get out immediately. The US has intercepted conversations between

two senior Al-Qaeda figures, including top leader Ayman

al-Zawahiri and their representative in Yemen. The warning to leave Yemen

came shortly after a US drone strike killed four suspected Al-Qaeda

militants. The BBC's Yalda Hakim is just back from Yemen after speaking

to people whose family members have been killed in what they say are

drone strikes. Yemen is one of the front lines in

America's war against Al-Qaeda. The number of don't strikes has tripled

between 2011 and 2012. -- drone strikes. That is according to a US

think tank. But for this farmer, it comes with a high human cost. He was

working in the fields one day when he heard the blast, we went to see

what happened and when he got there, he saw that two missiles had

killed in the Yemeni town last September. This footage was given to

us by a local journalist. Survivors said they saw at least one drone and

Al-Qaeda leader travelling on the same stretch of road. The United

States has never officially acknowledged that it carried out the

strike, the Yemeni government paid $75,000 in blood money to the

families. With drone strikes an established part of US strategy to

combat Al-Qaeda, a Yemeni youth activist has a worrying message for

Washington. The United States thinks it understands Yemen, but drones of

been one of the most effective tools for Al-Qaeda to succeed in Yemen. A

big part of Al-Qaeda's pirate at the moment is convincing Yemeni people

that they are at war with the United States. -- Al-Qaeda's pirate.

the Yemeni Foreign Minister rejects this analysis. I have heard this,

and there might be some truth in it, but the fact is that if your targets

are Al-Qaeda leaders, and if they are in danger in the security of

your country, there is no alternative. The Foreign Minister

also says the accidental killing of civilians is an unfortunate

side-effect of war, but that is little comfort for the ball like

this farmer, who knows his fight for justice is a long and lonely one.

That was Yalda Hakim reporting. Anthony Cordesman is the Arleigh A

Burke Chair in strategy at their Centre for Strategic and

International Studies and is in Washington for as. Good to have you

there. I am not sure if you could hear another report the analysis

that these drone attacks, and there was another one, is perhaps

providing some sort of order or incentive for Al-Qaeda in Yemen to

attack US interests, what do you think? Firstly, this is the same

reaction everywhere that they are used. A lot of it is straight

propaganda. You have a target in Al-Qaeda, who do all they can to

make this into an attack on the local population. They will stage

people to appear in crowds, to be spokesman to the media, who claim to

have had civilian casualties, and there are real civilian casualties,

but the fact is this is war. If you are going to deal with a terrorist

movement, which in many ways is an insurgent group, that hides behind

the billion areas, that locates itself with women and children. --

hides behind civilian areas. That attempts to move in ways that there

is no ability to distinguish between military and civilian targets, the

drones offer advantages no other method of attack does. It can loiter

for a long time, can observe what is happening on the ground, bring in

other intelligence sources, because unlike a combat aircraft, you can

take the time and loiter over the target. That does not mean there

will not be tragedies, or innocent civilians, but in a war, the fact is

that the enemy is going to get killed. If you...And if the enemy

fights this kind of war, there will be cases, tragic as they are, we're

civilians died. You describe this as a war, so how credible do you

believe this threat to be? And why has the US moved to shut embassies

in 19 other countries? I think the problem we have is the New York

Times and other papers have basically focused on a possible

communications link between the head of Al-Qaeda, is essentially in

Pakistan, and the head of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen,

but what none of those now is what really is the mixture of sources and

methods. You almost never react to one indicator to date. Behind this,

what no one will say, because it will give away sources and methods,

is probably a history of weeks or months of build-up, a whole set of

additional indicators, which can be anything from imagery of what is

happening on the ground, to pattern analysis, to something like

money-laundering or the movement of weapons, or simply patterns of

immigration that no one will disclose. But you do not do this

simply because you have one indicator. You do this because you

have a mixture of indicators that there is a truly serious threat.

Anthony Cordesman, we shall leave it there, thank you for your analysis

from Washington. Let us move on to Iran, where the

new president is showing signs that he wants to open talks with the

international community of his country's controversial nuclear

programme. Hassan Rouhani says he is ready to start serious talks and

without wasting time. TRANSLATION: I do not think that the

West has heard Iran's message. I do not think that the West thinks that

continuing their sanctions and threats will bring them to any

conclusion. Interaction and constructive talks, to resolve

mutual concerns, guarantees both sides' interests and we are after

the win-win game. And this is possible. Let us discuss the

significance of this by speaking to Amir Paivar from BBC Persian TV. We

heard those comments of a win-win game, and it being possible, what do

you think? I think it is possible. It would not have been any easier,

or the state would not have been better set than it is now with the

government of Hassan Rouhani, but it does not mean it will be an easy

ride, because in Iran, the last word is that of the supreme leader. The

country would not want to be seen as losing too much with no negotiations

with their nuclear programme. So there is the opportunity there are,

but it would be a difficult task. Just on that point about the supreme

leader, is there any chance that perhaps the new president is taking

instructions from him to open up talks or is this coming from Hassan

Rouhani himself? It could not have come from Hassan Rouhani alone. The

general understanding is the supreme leader is backing this initiative.

The question is how far each of them would want to go. For the survival

of the regime, that is paramount to the supreme leader. But that is

undermined because of the current stand-off, and that is what the

supreme leader would want fixed. But for diplomats, such as Hassan

Rouhani and the people around him, they would want to go further, which

is weird difficulties would start. But to start negotiations, to talk

to world powers over Iran's dossier is what the supreme leader once as

well. Very briefly, Hassan Rouhani spoke about the election

consolidating the process of democracy in Iran, what do you

think, is that true? You see people from conservatives, from centrist

and reformists in his cabinet. This is a national unity cabinet and will

probably decrease the infighting within the regime and bring more

stability. On those terms, I think he is right.

Thank you. A brief look at some of the other news. A series of car

bombs has gone off in the Iraqi capital Baghdad killing at least 20

people. The blast targeted markets and shopping districts and other

latest in a sting of attacks which have risen since the start of the

year. July was the deadliest month since 2008 according to the US.

A former US Army psychiatrist has gone on trial in Texas over the

deaths of 13 people at Fort hood in 2009. He is accused of the worst

noncombat attack on a military base in history. He is representing

himself and told jurors the evidence would show he was the shooter, but

would not tell the whole story. Now to Canada where two young boys

have been killed by an rock python. It escaped from a pet shop and

police say the 16 foot snake coiled itself around the five and

seven-year-old boys as they were sleeping. It had apparently got into

their flat through a ventilation system.

Seven-year-old Connor and five-year-old Noah adored one

another. Sleepovers were a regular treat, but yesterday, a visit to

their best friend's home turned into unimaginable tragedy. The police

sealed off the New Brunswick building where the brothers were

killed. They had spent the night at the flat above the pet shop where

their friend lived. It is believed the snake kept on the ground floor

of the shop slip out of its cage, travelled through the ventilation

unit and into the room the boys were sleeping. The shop owner, a family

friend, discovered the children. thought they were sleeping until I

saw the hall in the ceiling. I switched on the lights and saw this

horrific scene, and the snake was gone. When I found it, it was

underneath a spot, and I pinned him down, put him in a cage. The snake,

similar to these, is thought to be an African rock python,

approximately four metres long, and it had wrapped itself around the

children. By the time the emergency services arrived, the boys were

dead. Experts say incidents like these or error. Was the snake

Hungary? Absolutely. That does not mean that it was a snake that was

neglected. Nevertheless, one Canadian media report claims

customers had previously complained about the conditions at the shop and

a question hangs over whether the shop was properly licensed. Tonight,

the boys' mother is described as grief stricken.

The European Commission is to send a team of monitors to the border

between Spain and Jabbar author as the row over the British territory

continues. As macro Spain and Gibraltar. The Spanish government

says it may introduce a fee to cross the border and close Spanish

airspace to flights bound for The Rock. The monitors are expected to

arrive in the next month or so. From Gibraltar, Tom Burridge sent this

report. They are disputed waters between Spain and Britain. As you

can see, we are not far from the Rock and according to the Gibraltar

government we are clearly in their waters, but the Spanish government

disagrees. Hello ask is the source of the tension, the row between

Spain, Gibraltar and Britain. -- below us. Seven days ago Gibraltar

says it has created an artificial reef, Spain says the blocks were

dumped in the sea to keep Spanish Fishermens away. In the morning mist

we found these Spanish fishermen preparing their nets. It's madness,

says this man. For years we have got on well and now we have fallen out

with our neighbours. Their Gibraltar neighbours have set -- live in a

small slice of Britain for 300 years. Spain gave Gibraltar to

Britain in a peace treaty but has since claimed it should be given

back. Spain has threatened a 50 euros charged to cross the. --

charge to cross the border. This is really so totally contrary to the

Freedom of Rome but we believe this will be illegal and therefore it

cannot be made to work. -- that we believe. There has been tension in

these crowded waters before. People on either side of the divide our

friends, colleagues and neighbours, but the three governments on this

issue for now can't get along. Europeans have enjoyed wine for

centuries and now it seems the Chinese have developed a taste for

the tipple, so much so that French Vineyards are being bought by

Chinese investors, but are they maintaining quality? In a moment we

will hear from Celia Hatton in Beijing but first here is Christian

Fraser in the French city of Bordeaux.

That or it's of Chateau de Pique date from the 14th century. -- the

turrets. TRANSLATION: the French have been

waking wine far longer than the Chinese. You have to recognise that

expertise and I hope to maintain that.

But a large part of what is produced in the Chinese owned Vineyards is

destined for the Chinese alone. There is no reflection about

quality, they just want to buy a brand and make money from it.

region of 8000 chateaux, the Chinese owned less than 60. What is far more

significant is the trade. Last year they bought 21 million bottles of

wine. The middle-class in China will grow to some 300 million people in

coming years, and that is of value to Chinese investors who want to

control the tyre supply train from production to the consumer.

Chinese usually reach for French wine when they want to enjoy

something. Chinese wine is a different story. Many believe they

can't compete with their rivals in the old world. Someone to change

that. In a region better known for mining coal than growing grapes, one

winery has won over the world's toughest critics. These wines are

picking up scores of international awards and lots of local fans. It

has European touches including oak barrels from French forests but the

work that sets its wine apart is all Chinese.

You have been dating for people to buy your wine so you are used to

begging, and now we don't need to beg any more. Since 2008 the

vineyard sells all of its wine every year, 2 million bottles. Most of the

wine is consumed inside the country. Chinese drinkers, it seems, are

learning to look past their French favourites to Smith, swirl and

swallow a local success story. -- sniff.

I did not know that the Chinese were wine drinkers. Has this been going

on for some time? It is a fairly new experience for the Chinese. They

made wine 4000, 5000 years ago but they have really concentrated on

spirits made from grains and it was not until the 1980s that the

government decided to get behind grape wine because they were

concerned about the amount of alcohol being consumed. How much is

this a status symbol and the new middle-class wanting what Westerners

wanted? The top end of the market certainly is but at the lower end it

is very much about changing drinking habits. To show how quickly China

has developed, within 30 years they have now become the sixth largest

wine producing country in the world, they are looking at becoming

maybe larger in the next five years. That is extraordinary. They are

having to groan their own wine, white? -- grow their own wine,

wine? -- why? If you have a lot of money you like to own your own

Vineyard and in some cases that is what is happening in Bordeaux. The

Chinese economy is one of the few that is still working so they have

some money and they are investing, partly to meet the demand back home.

Have you tasted any Chinese wine? have tasted a few, we are still

trying to find the right one to put on display. Two years ago a Chinese

wine one Trophy at one of the biggest wine tasting competitions.

-- wine won a trophy. I wonder if... I don't know if cultural

cringe is the right word but 30 years ago Australian wine was seen

as inferior. Do you think we will be any position where drinking Chinese

wine will be second nature? -- in a position. I think so. The Vineyards

and the experience are both quite underdeveloped. They are learning

and their wines are getting better year in, year out.

A year ago today the Mars rover Curiosity was touching down on the

Martian surface. So far over 70,000 images have been sent act to Earth

and we have learned a lot more about the red planet. Our science editor

David Shukman has the details. It began with a high-speed approach

and then a nail-biting descent. One year ago in NASA's most

sophisticated rover successfully touched down on Mars.

Mission control erupted. Years of planning had paid off and a series

of discoveries was to follow. This sequence of pictures shows how

Curiosity got to work exploring the landscape of the clues about whether

it ever could have supported life. Let's imagine we could be on Mars

right side Curiosity. The most striking thing is its sheer size but

this allows it to carry more instruments than ever before to see

if life could ever have existed. The first discovery was on the surface

itself. Curiosity was among rocks that had formed a bit of a stream.

-- aid head. -- a bed. It attempted something never tried before, to use

a drill on the end of the arm to dig below the surface just a couple of

inches, but the results were amazing. The drilling revealed a

kind of clay which could only be formed in water with the right

chemical balance for life. In fact the water would have been

drinkable, proof according to NASA of the first discovery of a

potential habitat on a world beyond our own. Rock from an old stream in

Britain, very similar to what has been found on Mars. This man from

NASA's team says this is extremely significant. This would have been

sweet water which on earth is perfect for life to thrive. On Mars

we have rocks perfectly conducive for life in the ancient past.

Curiosity is on the move again. Water once flowed here and we now

know that life at least had a chance.

Before we go, let's remind you of our top stories. The US and UK

governments have withdrawn diplomatic staff from Yemen and

urged their citizens to leave it security concerns. -- amid security

concerns. This was after recorded conversations between two senior

Al-Qaeda figures. The Iranians president says that he

is determined to resolve the long-running dispute over the

country's nuclear programme. From me and the rest of the team, it

weather has really calmed down. Most places are set fair for the rest of

the week. In the August sunshine it will feel warm with temperatures

around average or above. Low pressure is close enough to throw us

a few showers. We will have cloud in Northern Ireland and the northern

half of Scotland. We will have rain turning more fragmented into the

afternoon. Across northern England, very isolated showers, most places

dry and bright. Showers across the coast of East Anglia and on the

south coast. The showers on Tuesday across Devon and Cornwall will be

well scattered, still plenty of sunshine lifting the temperatures to

20 or 21. That is what we will see in southern Wales as well, one or

two isolated showers. A cloudy start from Northern Ireland, one or two

heavy showers possible and even across central and southern