26/11/2017 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today.

I'm Lucy Grey.

Our top stories.

The first aid shipment in weeks

arrives at Yemen's rebel-held port

after the Saudi-led coalition

eases its blockade.

More details emerge about the attack

on a mosque in Egypt

which killed 300 people.

Officials believe up to 30

gunmen were involved

Thousands are evacuated from around

Bali's Mount Agung

which has been

spewing out ash and steam

for the second time in a week.

Also in the programme,

cracking down on the

illegal use of drones.

Police in the UK could be given new

powers following safety concerns.

Hello and welcome

to World News Today.

The United Nations says the first

ship carrying aid to

a rebel-held port has arrived,

after the Saudi-led coalition eased

a blockade that's lasted

nearly three weeks.

The World Food Programme says

the vessel docked at Saleef,

loaded with 25-thousand tonnes

of desperately-needed wheat.

Saleef is about 70 km north

of Hodeida which has been the main

conduit for UN-supervised deliveries

of food and medicine.

But what's thought to be

a commercial ship has

arrived in Hudaydah,

raising hopes that shipping

could resume to the port,

seen as vital to UN efforts

as it is closest to the majority

of people in need.

A UN plane carrying

desperately needed vaccines

landed in the rebel-held Yemeni

capital Sanaa on Saturday.

Coalition forces had partly

lifted the blockade,

after warnings that thousands

of people could die.

The UN child agency

welcomed the reopening

of the airport to aid flights.

It allowed us to send in the first

humanitarian convoy, 1.9 million

doses of vaccines, which are

urgently needed. For a planned

campaign to vaccinate 600,000

children, across Yemen. Vaccinate

them against diphtheria, meningitis,

whooping cough, pneumonia and

tuberculosis.

Stephen Anderson

is the Director

of the World Food Programme

in Yemen, speaking from the capital

Sanaa, he confirmed their ship

was waiting to unload.

The ship just arrived in a port

which is just due north of the port

of Hodeida on the red Sea in Yemen,

and it has sufficient food for 1.8

million Yemenis for one month,

Yemenis on the brink of starvation,

which is an extremely important

development for us.

Talking about 20

million people in Yemen needing

urgent assistance, it is such an

extraordinary figure, isn't it, tell

us what life is like for people?

Most of the civil servants, for over

a year, have not received their

salaries. We have two thirds of the

population who does not know where

their next meal is going to come

from. And we are trying to target

the most urgent among them, around 7

million, and of course, with onset,

recent onset of the blockade, and

the restrictions at all this, all

the prices went up, prices of food

and fuel and basic necessities. This

really impacts children, women,

elderly, the most. So the country is

really in freefall.

How difficult

has it been for your ship to get to

the position where it is now?

It has

been extremely difficult, the

blockade was announce on the 5th of

November, it actually arrived off

the coast on the 11th of November,

and it has been waiting, we have

kept it waiting, it has been

waiting. We need that food is

desperately for northern Yemen, the

people who are, as I said, on the

brink of starvation, and so we

persevered, and we are extremely

pleased to see that we finally got

permission last night.

Thousands of people have been

evacuated from the area around

Bali's Mount Agung which has been

spewing out ash and steam

for the second time in a week.

There are fears of a full scale

eruption

for the first time since 1963

when about 1,500 people were killed.

Indonesia has issued its most

serious warning for aircraft,

and many tourists have

been left stranded.

Tiffany Wertheimer reports.

VOICEOVER: The people of Indonesia

are used to sites like these, the

mountain is for the second time this

week 's UN black ash high into the

sky. Balkan knowledges to have

detected molten rock close to the

surface, which means a powerful

eruption could be imminent. Mount

Agun S been declared a danger zone,

and everyone within the seven and a

half alarm at radius has been

evacuated. -- Volcanologist.

We must

exercise caution for the possibility

of a strong explosive eruption.

It

is this the ash spewing six hours

and metres into the sky which

presents the greatest danger to

human life, within it, sharp

fragments of glass, crystal and

rock. Authorities are handing out

masks to everyone in its path.

25,000 people have fled to

evacuation centres but they are

struggling to cope. In September,

140,000 people fled when Mount Agung

first started rumbling, many have

never left shelters, too frightened

to return home. On the ground, the

alert status is three out of four,

and authorities say that the island

is safe.

The local residents are

still getting worried about their

daily business. Still cleaning up

the ash, to make the place

presentable.

Bali is a major tourist

destination and results are still

open although many flights have been

cancelled or diverted. However, the

ash cloud is drifting east, towards

the island of Lompoc, and it's

airport has been closed.

We are

trying to find out how to get out.

Indonesia is home to more than 130

active volcanoes, and sits on the

Pacific ring of fire, where there is

frequent seismic and volcanic

activity, Mount Agung is the most

sacred mountain in meat back Bali

and the last interrupted was 1963,

1500 people died. -- the most sacred

mountain in Bali. This time around,

no one is taking any chances.

Let's take a look at some of

the other stories making the news.

At least 23 civilians are reported

killed in the latest Syrian

government attacks

on a rebel-held enclave

on the outskirts of Damascus.

Activists say towns

in the Eastern Ghouta district have

been subjected to air strikes

and artillery fire.

The UN says after years of siege,

conditions are dire

for the 400,000 people

living in the enclave.

Officials in China say two people

have been killed and more

than thirty injured in a big

explosion at a factory in the port

city of Ningbo, south of Shanghai.

Windows more than a kilometre

away were reportedly

shattered by the blast.

-- 30.

Police say the cause is unclear.

Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen,

has asked to shut down one

of the country's main

human rights groups.

The NGO founder is an opposition

leader who is now in jail.

Earlier this month the Supreme Court

dissolved the main opposition party.

This means Mr Hun Sen will run

potentially unopposed

in next year's election.

More details are emerging

about the mosque attack

in Egypt on Friday,

the worst the country has

suffered in recent memory.

Three hundred worshippers, including

dozens of children, were killed.

As our Middle East correspondent

Orla Guerin reports,

local people are asking what more

can be done in the fight

against extremists in Sinai.

Her report contains some

distressing images.

Trying to bring comfort

after an attack that has horrified

Egypt and caused shock

around the world.

Among the survivors, the imam,

Mohammed Abdul Fatah.

He was leading the prayers

when terror came to the mosque.

As soon as people heard firing

they started to run, he said.

Some climbed onto the pulpit.

They were piled

on top of each other.

The attackers were shooting

at anyone breathing.

My friends lost their families,

lost their cousins and brothers,

some of them lost their sons.

This Sinai journalist

is from Bir al-Abed,

where the attack took place.

He says it's a turning

point for local tribes,

who have resolved to hunt

the militants themselves.

They had a meeting of their chiefs.

The tribe members yesterday, almost

400 people were in the meeting.

And they decided to carry arms.

And here, in a propaganda

video, the main suspects,

the Egyptian branch of IS,

which has found fertile ground

among the desert sands

and neglect in Sinai.

Now it has real money, resources,

weapons and recruits.

Sadly and tragically,

the Egyptian government has

basically used only military means

against the Isis

branch in North Sinai.

What you need

is to dislodge Isis from the social,

economical and political grievances

that exist in Sinai.

Experts say the Egyptian army has

been relying only on military might

to try to defeat IS in Sinai.

But now, more than ever,

it needs a new battle plan.

Orla Guerin, BBC News, Cairo.

The man who mediated Robert Mugabe's

resignation with the military has

said the former president

of Zimbabwe will continue to play

an active role in politics,

albeit in an advisory capacity.

Father Fidelis Mukonori,

a close friend of Mr Mugabe attended

the meeting with the army

generals last week.

He says the former leader wasn't

offered a deal to resign,

but decided to step down

for the good of the country.

He spoke to the BBC's

Richard Galpin.

Outside the capital, Harare,

a celebration of the first mass

in what is a new era for Zimbabwe.

The end of the rule

of Robert Mugabe, unleashing

a sense of freedom not felt

for decades here.

And the Jesuit priest

conducting the service,

Father Fidelis Mukonori,

is the man who brought it all about,

he is close to Robert Mugabe

and acted as a mediator.

Having played such a crucial role

in the transfer of power,

what then can Father Fidelis reveal

about the deals done to persuade

Robert Mugabe to stand down and how

the former president is reacting

to losing control of the country?

In his office, Father Fidelis said

that Mr Mugabe's decision to resign

was the best thing he had ever done.

He also said Mugabe will still

play an active role.

I don't know how you do it

in the rest of the world

but in the African world,

senior citizens

are there for advice.

In his office, Father Fidelis said

that Mr Mugabe's decision to resign

was the best thing he had ever done.

He also said Mugabe will still

play an active role.

I don't know how you do it

in the rest of the world

but in the African world,

senior citizens

are there for advice.

But will people go to him

for advice, for example,

the new president?

The new president said, he is my

mentor, he is my father, my leader.

When he is my father,

my leader, my mentor,

as he said, I don't think so.

You played a key role as the main

mediator to persuade

Robert Mugabe to stand down;

what was the deal which did persuade

him to go,

what was he given,

what has he been offered?

We did not offer him anything.

You are asking a direct

question for him to resign,

he was not offered anything,

he resigned for

the good of Zimbabwe.

There are reports that he has been

offered millions of dollars,

that he will have immunity

from prosecution, that all his

businesses will be left untouched.

Is that correct?

What I have read in

the newspapers about immunity...

That he will be looked after,

like any other head of state.

That is what I have

read in the newspapers.

How confident are you that the new

president

will pursue a democratic path

rather than reverting to a more

autocratic presidency,

like that of Robert Mugabe?

He has said so.

That he will be a democrat?

Yes.

And you believe him?

Well, I do,

after 50 years of active life

as a soldier and as a politician,

he knows what it means,

he knows that democracy is crucial.

At the moment, this remains

a honeymoon period for Zimbabwe,

people here determined to believe

real change has come,

but that has yet to be proven.

Stay with us on BBC World News,

still to come: cracking down on the

illegal use of drones, police in the

UK could be given new powers

following concerns over safety

headlines: the first aid shipment in

weeks arrives at Yemen's rebel held

port after the Saudi led coalition

eases its blockade. Thousands are

evacuated from around Bali's Mount

Agung which has been spewing out ash

and steam for the second time in a

week.

Ireland's European Union

commissioner, Phil Hogan,

has said his country will "play

tough to the end" over its threat

to stop Brexit talks progressing.

The EU says more clarity is needed

on the future border

between the Irish Republic

and Northern Ireland,

which is part of the UK.

The government in the south doesn't

want to see a new physical

border with the north.

Our political correspondent

Chris Mason explains.

Could this be the 310-mile

sticking point

that stops the Brexit

talks moving on?

The border between Northern

Ireland and the Republic,

what will soon be the frontier

between the UK and the EU.

Ireland insists it must remain open,

and almost invisible after Brexit,

or it could block the negotiations

progressing to discuss trade.

But the Government says until there

is a discussion about the future,

the border issue can't be resolved.

We can't get a final answer

to the Irish question until we get

an idea of the end state,

and until we get into discussions

with the EU on the end state,

that will be very difficult.

So the quicker we can do that,

the better, and we're

still in the position where the EU

doesn't want to do that.

And we're getting close now to 2018,

when we will be talking

about next year when we leave

the European Union.

There's long been irritation

in government here that the EU

won't let talks progress

until sufficient progress has been

made on money, citizens' rights

and the Irish border.

Both London and Dublin agree

that they don't want to see

the return of a hard border,

but neither side has yet publicly

suggested a solution which both

would be happy with.

The Government wants the UK to leave

what's known as the single market

and the customs union after Brexit.

Meaning, in broad terms,

our economy and the EU economy

would be governed

by different rules.

Some say that means it'll be

impossible not to have a more

obvious border, and so...

The way to stay the same

on the island of Ireland,

as it is today, post-Brexit

is for at least the UK to take

their red line off the table.

But to stay in the customs union

and single market gives us

what we have today,

an invisible border, seamless trade,

and it also will build and help us

keep those relationships.

Ministers here though insist

that will not happen.

Labour says the Government needs

to be willing to be more flexible.

What this Government has done is it

has ruled out remaining a member

of the single market or a member

of the customs union.

That is what they have said very

clearly, that they are going

to leave both of those institutions.

We have not ruled

those off the table.

We've said they are still options.

Christmas is getting closer,

but next month's crunch EU

Summit is closer still.

This is a delicate operation.

All sides agree a unique solution

is needed for the Irish border.

But they agree too

that pulling that off

is an incredibly tricky manoeuvre.

Chris Mason, BBC News,

at Westminster.

Here in Britain, police

could be given the power

to crack down on the illegal use

of drones,

as part of proposed new legislation.

Around the world there have been

concerns about drones

flying near airports,

and being used for smuggling

and even terrorism.

Joe Lynam reports.

They could be one of the most

coveted presents this Christmas.

Prices have come down and you can do

a lot more with them.

This potential customer says

he would use one for aerial

surveys and research.

But he knows there needs

to be more controls.

It's all for safety, isn't it?

We don't want drones crashing

into planes and things like that.

Safety concerns surrounding drones

were highlighted in July,

when Gatwick Airport had to close

when a drone was flown under

a plane about to land.

There have been near misses

at Leeds Bradford,

Cork and Manchester

airports since 2015.

And to prevent drones getting too

close,

the proposed Drone Bill

could mean that owners of drones

weighing more than 250g

will need to register and do a test.

They will be banned

from flying near airports,

or higher than 120

metres, or 400 feet.

And police will get new powers

to seize unmanned aerial vehicles.

But drones have a growing list

of useful applications.

This prototype can fly into water

and propel itself back out.

These drones can be used

on oil rigs to fix cables

in treacherous conditions.

And they are the types of uses

that the Aviation Minister

wants to encourage.

We've looked at the drones

today which can help

in the construction industry,

in the mining industry,

an offshore oil rigs.

And what's really exciting

is that they can do the jobs that

actually put people at risk,

so hopefully it will help

with safety as well.

With the rising popularity of drones

comes the issue of potential

misuse by the public.

This legislation could mean that

new users won't be able to simply

take it out of the box and start

flying it straightaway.

Joe Lynam, BBC News.

Tolsen Tullet has all the sport.

Top of the league Barcelona

were denied a penalty in the first

half of their match

against Valencia.

Replays appeared to show the ball

from a Lionel Messi shot

that was fumbled by Neto had clearly

crossed the line but with goal line

technology not in use

the goal wasn't awarded.

Rodrigo then added insult to injury

with a goal on the hour

mark that sees Valencia ahead

and if it stays that way

would narrow the gap

at the top to just one point.

Elsewhere 5th-placed Sevilla

continued their habit

of coming from behind,

this time they went 2-0 down

to Villarreal only to win 3-2,

Ever Banega with a penalty to win it

12 minutes from time

while Las Palmas move off the bottom

after a 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad

with Deportivo La Coruna

and Athletic Bilbao finishing 2-2.

Manchester City scored

two second half goals

to re-establish their eight point

lead at the top of the English

Peremier League winning 2-1

at Huddersfield Town.

Pep Guardiola's side

equalled the club record,

set in 2015, by securing an 11th

successive Premier League victory,

despite falling behind

through a Nicolas Otamendi own goal.

Raheem Sterling scored the winner

with six minutes remaining

which added to the penalty converted

by Sergio Aguero shortly

after the half time interval.

It was the first time City have come

from behind at half-time to win

a Premier League away match

since April 1995.

The Premier League is so tough,

especially now winter has come. They

are so aggressive. So strong, but we

are so happy for the way we have won

this.

A controversial stoppage time

penalty from Alexis Sanchez handed

Arsenal a 1-0 victory

against Burnley at Turf Moor.

The win moves the Gunners up

to fourth in the table ahead

of north London rivals Tottenham,

while the Clarets remain 7th.

Elsewhere Everton's wretched season

continues losing 4-1 at Southampton

with Saints striker Charlie Austin

scoring two second-half headers

on his first league

start of the season.

France have clinched

their 10th Davis Cup title,

after Lucas Pouille's convincing

victory over Steve Darcis

in the deciding match in Lille.

The Frenchman won in straight

sets 6-3, 6-1, 6-0,

wrapping up the best-of-five tie

3-2.

It's France's first title since 2001

which was celebrated

wildly by the 27,000 crowd

at the Pierre Moroit stadium.

Valtteri Bottas brought

the Formula One season to a close

with an untroubled win at

the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

His Mercedes team

mate Lewis Hamilton -

who won his fourth World

Championship with two races

still remaining in the season -

couldn't end his campaign in front

while Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel

was outclassed in third place.

-- Pierre-Mauroy.

Sailors from the Royal Navy have

been performing the famous Changing

the Guard ceremony outside

Buckingham Palace in

London for the first time

in its 350 year history.

The ceremony involves one set

of guards, the Old Guard,

handing over the responsibility

of protecting Buckingham Palace

and St James's Palace

to another set of guards,

the New Guard.

The manoeuvres are usually carried

out by a regiment from the army.

That is all from me, get in touch on

Twitter. Thank you for watching,

goodbye for now.