this is bbc world news today. i'm martin stanford. our top stories... houthi rebels in yemen begin pulling back from a key port — as part of a un—backed ceasefire deal aimed at delivering vitalfood aid. two years later than scheduled — with a run—up marred by violence — the stage is set for sunday's elections in the democratic republic of congo. the british immigration minister defends the government's handling of the rise in migrants crossing the channel. we wa nt we want to make sure that people don't set sail across the channel making perilous journey as a treacherous time of the year. and... we meet the babushkas of siberia who are hoping to make millions by mining for crypto—currency. hello and welcome to world news today. yemen's houthi rebels have reportedly begun to withdraw

from the key stretegic port of hodeidah — as part of a ceasefire to allow in urgently needed food aid. the houthis control most districts of hodeidah — including the port — through which most food and humanitarian aid enters yemen. a un team arrived in the city last week to oversee the cease—fire. here's our arab affairs editor sebastian usher with more. it's a small sign of hope in yemen. the apparent implementation of the first stage of the hard—won deal on hodeidah, agreed at un sponsored talks earlier this month. houthi rebels have been pulling back from the port, which is the key lifeline for some 1a million yemenis. a houthie spokesman said control of the port was being handed to the coast guard in line with the agreement reached in sweden. they say they now expect the pro—government site to start its

redeployment away from areas in the city of hodeidah where the forces have taken in their recent offensive. the man leading the un mission was on hand, he is going to hold a meeting on new year's day with representatives from both sides to discuss the next stage. the security situation remains shaky in hodeidah, sporadic firing from both sides has marred the truce that came into effect earlier this month. the city is functioning. in the countryside some have taken refuge in makeshift camps, doing their best to ward off the threat of famine, just like many millions of their fellow yemen citizens, a sign of how vital it is for the hodeidah deal to work and to give momentum towards a wider resolution of the conflict. i spoke to hisham al—omeisy, a yemen analyst, and asked him whether the ceasefire was holding.

the ceasefire has been largely holding up. does that mean the flow ofaid and holding up. does that mean the flow of aid and food can reach all parts of aid and food can reach all parts of yemen as it should? not necessarily. it is a bit more complex on the ground, you have to remember that there are ceasefires within ceasefires within yemen, it is also within yemen, but the houthis are besieging some areas. there are various factions, notjust the houthis who are hindering the flow of aid. sebastien mentioned the flow of aid. sebastien mentioned the flow of aid through hodeidah and he is right, it is notjust an area of getting it through the port, but also areas of distribution across the country, there are malicious through the country, they are also

taxing the aid whenever it goes from say, hodeidah to the capital, so the aid, although it gets into, it trickles down to the people, little of it gets to the rightful recipients. only a very token force from the united nations representatives really there to make sure the sides keep to the terms of the ceasefire agreement in sweden, can they be effective? they can be effective and they have started working on this. the houthis have pulled out from the port but there is an issue because many people are employed within hodeidah and the houthis have strong control and you end up handing the port to people from hodeidah who are largely houthis to begin with and the government are accusing the houthis that basically they are controlling one faction to another faction that

also belongs to the houthis so there is the mistrust issue and the redeployment of forces at hodeidah by the un has got to be stepped up. it is us, the un, have the final call, it is us who run the port, because of the mistrust with the factions, that is why the un is there in the middle to manage the port. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the two—year—old boy whose yemini motherfought for a us visa to visit him in hospital, has died. abdullah hassan was on life support by the time his mother was granted a us visa to visit him. she was initially prohibited from traveling to the us because of president trump's ban that restricts yemeni nationals from entering the country. the uk has spent $130 million on extra ferry capacity — to ensure the delivery of critical goods in the event of a no—deal brexit.

the ships have been chartered to ease congestion at dover, and allow more lorries through other ports. the department for transport described the move as "a small but importa nt" element of its no—deal planning. flights at germany's hanover airport have resumed after they were suspended when a man drove a car onto the tarmac. police were able to overpower the man and stop the car. it's unclear what the motive was. egypt says it has killed a0 people it accuses of planning attacks against tourist sites and state institutions. the country's interior ministry says it happened on hideouts in giza and north sinai after it received intelligence that there would be attacks against state institutions, tourist sites and churches. police launched the raids a day after the deadly bombing of a tourist bus near the pyramids outside cairo. the un secretary—general, antonio guterres, has called for sunday's presidential election in the democratic republic of congo to be free of violence so voters can

peacefully cast their ballots. on friday, protesters blocked roads in a number of eastern cities as unrest continued over the postponement of the election in three areas. the government in kinshasa had blamed the postponement on an ebola outbreak and violence, but its motives have been questioned by the opposition. earlier the bbc‘s saleem kikeke — who is in the country's capital kinshasa — told us how congolese people are reacting to the latest developments. the postponement of three regions in the drc came as a surprise. one political opposition presidential candidate described it as a joke. so you can see the scepticism within the congolese people that, will it actually happen? it was delayed in 2016 and then last week it was moved for another week. the three regions really

came as a surprise. people are very frustrated in those three regions. they will not be voting with the rest of the country and they will have to wait until march, 2019. sounds easy but it's very complicated because the electoral commission here says it's still going to swear in the new president onjanuary the 18th, regardless of the voters who will not have cast their votes. siberia may be the last place you'd expect to find cutting—edge cryptocurrency mining, but conditions in the remote russian region are ideal. and when our moscow correspondent sarah rainsford travelled to irkutsk she discovered some surprising characters involved in mining for bitcoins. meet marina, a babushka who mines for bitcoins on her siberian porch.

"here's the machines that make a noise and make me money", she tells me. as those machines whir and mine for virtual currency, marina has been converting that to real cash to top up her pension. it's no wonder she takes care of the things. she's travelled all over europe on the money. translation: they said to me, "marina, why don't you buy some mining machines?" i said "ok", and i don't regret it. the machines paid for themselves in eight or nine months. and marina's been putting the hot air from the machines to good use. "you can dry the washing here and make dry tomatoes, like in italy", she says. "the dried pumpkin is pretty tasty too." and she's not the only miner in irkutsk. you might not immediately think of siberia as a high—tech hub,

but the conditions here are ideal for mining bitcoins. there's cheap power from a hydroelectric plant just up the river here, and there's the harsh climate itself, it can drop to minus a0 here in the depths of winter — perfect for cooling all those mining machines. that's why when yuri's karaoke bar was struggling, his family got into bitcoins in a big way. they are cryptocurrency pioneers here. that includes yuri's mum, valeria. irkutsk, it's a crypto capital of russia. for this business, you don't need to be a great specialist because it's an easy system. you only put your computers on electricity and the internet. valeria's miner is here at the family farm. there are gaps in the racks now, where clients removed their machines when the bitcoin‘s value crashed, but valeria hasn't

abandoned her dream. translation: i want some money i've earned myself, and i want a lot of money. when the bitcoin is worth a million, like my son says, then i'll be able to leave my grandchildren a very large inheritance. it is a dream drawn big here, of a new gold rush, this one for virtual cash, and the babushkas of siberia are leading the charge. sarah rainsford, bbc news, irkutsk. dame june whitfield — celebrated for her comic roles in bbc sitcom terry and june and cult favourite absolutely fabulous — has died aged 93. she was a regular fixture on tv and radio for six decades, starring in carry on films, hancock's half hour, and even friends. at 92, she was made a dame. her agent said she died peacefully on friday night. this is bbc world news today.

stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: beaten to it byjust two days... an army officer becomes the first briton — and the second person ever to trek unaided across antarctica. the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted with the introduction of the euro. tomorrow in holland we are going to use money we picked up in belgium today and then we'll be in france and again, it'll be the same money. it's just got to be the way to go. george harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in his 0xfordshire home. a 33—year—old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion

of attempted murder. i think it was good. just good? no, fantastic. that's better. this is bbc world news today. the latest headlines houthi rebels in yemen are reported to have begun withdrawing from the strategic port area of hodeidah — aimed at delivering urgently needed food aid. the uk's immigration minister has defended the government's handling of the increase in migrants crossing the channel. caroline nokes — who visited dover —

said they were working with france to tackle the issue. so how many people are we talking about? well, betweenjanuary and november this year authorities intercepted 250 migrants. that included 65 people, mostly iranians, in the last three weeks of november alone. but british media reports say 94 migrants have been detained crossing the channel since christmas day. richard lister sent this report. you have to be desperate to make this journey. the migrants crossing the channel in ill—equipped boats in winter are fleeing war zones, persecution and poverty. their growing numbers are sounding alarm bells in westminster. the immigration minister has been meeting border force officials in dover today. her boss, the home secretary sajid javid, has cut short his christmas holiday to tackle what he's declared a major incident. the government says french

cooperation is vital. we want to make sure we continue to work with the french so that people are prevented from leaving beaches in northern france, to make sure we are providing joint operations in terms of intelligence and policing. the number of migrants heading here is minuscule compared to the million or so who tried to cross the mediterranean three years ago. but the numbers are rising, up to more than 220 who have made the crossing since the beginning of november alone. so, why the sudden surge? in the autumn, french police intensified efforts to clear migrant camps around dunkirk and calais, leaving large numbers of people looking for ways to leave france. secret filming by the bbc a few weeks ago revealed that people smugglers have now become increasingly organised in helping migrants cross the channel.

translation: a boat will cost you £3“4,000. it's border force vessels like this one that have to intercept them. there is only one on active patrol here at the moment, and some say there should be more. there is no resilience within a border force. there is no spare capacity to increase and put resources in to try to stop this and deal with these large numbers as they arrive. we are stripped to our bare—bones and there is nothing more border force has to give. the government's weighing up whether deploying more patrol boats would deter migrants and save lives, or if it would give these desperate people more of an incentive to make the crossing. richard lister, bbc news, dover. i'm joined via webcam by steve valdez—symonds do you think there should be more border force staff and more vessels

to look out for these people?m seems the case that there needs to be more vessels in the channel to rescue people in very dangerous circumstances at sea, that is a result of years and many months of ignoring the plight of these people in northern france but that seems to be the reality now. the concern is if you provide any sort of welcome you will only encourage more to attempt the journey. we have seen too many of these nonsense arguments over the past years, both now and previously for a long time in the mediterranean, every time search and rescue has been withdrawn and reduced, we have simply seen many more people die at sea, the fact is, people's lives are at risk in those lives should be saved and we can then get on with the issue of dealing with people's welfare, asylu m dealing with people's welfare, asylum claims, and determining if people have rights to asylum which

they are entitled to exercise. you would urge the government to provide the welcome and care for people but you don't accept the argument that that will encourage others to make the journey? the reason these journeys are being made is because this government and the french government together have made sure that the people we are talking about have received no welcome whatsoever in france, and four in many cases probably several months and possibly over a number of years including people who have family in this country, so people have been forced again to turn to ever desperate more risky means, trying to find places that are safe and that is what needs to change. one of the arguments about brexit was about taking back control of borders, and this government has argued many times thatis government has argued many times that is what the people wanted them to do. we can carry on this

ridiculous merry—go—round, frankly, of governments across europe and elsewhere, refusing to take their share of responsibility, for people in desperate need, and all that has done has escalated the circumstances that people now need to make dangerous journeys, and at the same time it has meant criminal gangs and traffickers and some very ruthless smugglers are profiting all the while governments sit back and say, nothing to do with us, we will not provide protection, safety and security for people in obvious urgent need. steve from amnesty international, thanks for joining us. hello and thanks for joining us on sport today. liverpool have opened up a nine point lead at the top of the premier league after beating arsenal 5—1 at anfield, leaving jurgen klopp's

side firmly in control in the title race — arsenal took the lead but liverpool equalised almost immediately thanks to roberto firminho who went on to score a hat trick. sadio mane and mo salah were also on the score sheet in the comprehensive win whioch sees liverpool end the year on a high not too bad. i'm not sure how many points we have got over the whole year. we have won a few games, obviously, and the champions league run in the first part of the season, we have been pretty successful, winning a lot of games there, so the boys have made a big step. it is important to show the process, a positive process, and for 2018, i have nothing to moan about any more. tottenham manager mauricio pochettino had claimed his side were intruders in the title race after impressive wins against everton and bournemouth, but second placed tottenham slipped to a surprise 3—1 defeat to wolves as their own title ambitions suffered a set back. india are on the cusp of taking a 2—1 lead in theirfour test

series with australia after their bowlers put in yet another scintillating display at the melbourne cricket ground on day 4. having set the hosts an unlikely 399 to win they reduced the aussies to 258—8 at stumps. pat cummins the only australian to pass the half century point. he's unbeaten on 66 but the baggie greens are still 1111 runs short of victory with only two wickets in hand. i see how much hard work the guys are doing in their nets at training, andi are doing in their nets at training, and i know they are working hard. they are not going out there giving it 50%, they are working their backsides off and they have got my support. we are against a world —class support. we are against a world—class bowling attack. 0ne support. we are against a world—class bowling attack. one of the best indian bowling attacks i've ever seen, so the best indian bowling attacks i've ever seen, so i know our batsmen are disappointed. i know how hard they have been working, though, so i know around the corner there is a lot of

success for them. boxer floyd mayweather says his focus is on entertaining the fans ahead of his exhibition fight against japanese kickboxer tenshin nasukawa. the pair will meet on new year's eve over three 3—minute rounds — the bout wont count on their official reciord. and mayweather, who is undefeated in 50 fights says he could last three rounds in his sleep. he has taken this fight extremely seriously, he is probably working ha rd seriously, he is probably working hard in the gym, but this is just another day, i don't have to work ha rd another day, i don't have to work hard in the gym for three rounds, i can basically do three rounds in my sleep so i don't worry about that. we will see what he brings to the table, but as far as me getting knocked out or knocked out, i don't worry about it at all. that's all the sport for now. a british army officer has become the first briton in history

to trek unaided across antarctica. captain lou rudd, a9, finished the solo 1,482km journey on friday after 56 days. he is the second person ever to make the journey, after american colin 0'brady completed the trek two days earlier — on 26 december. the two were in an epic race to the finish. it's a huge relief to complete the journey. it's been pretty brutal at times. at the moment i'm down on the ross ice shelf, which is the largest floating ice shelf on the planet. it's an area about the size of france, on the edge of the continent. it's frozen sea ice, about 300 feet thick.

today the weather is fantastic, very light wind. it's about —20 celsius, which, to be honest, feels tropical after the temperatures i've been enduring on the polar platform, at 9000 feet, where it was regularly —30. in the back of my mind, coming down and attempting this journey. his wife, joanna, very graciously gave me his family crest flag that he was carrying at the time, and i've got that with me. it's personally a great honour that i'm able to carry the flag successfully right the way across and make it, you know, complete the journey, in tribute to henry. we've effectively been racing each

other for the last two months across the continent. i came injust behind him. extraordinary competition between those men. the comedy actress jamie june whitfield has died, she was 93 and best known for her role on the bbc sitcom terry and june —— the comedy actress dame june whitfield. that is it for tonight. good evening, our largely dry and

settled spell of weather continues to the final few days of 2018. high pressure keeping things dry and quite and this was the view taken in norwich early on saturday. we have got some rain around, and that rain is clearing in northern ireland, pushing across england and northern ireland. could be a touch of frost towards east anglia in the south—east where these skies will stay clearest but for most a frost free start to sunday, cloudy conditions from the word go, and it will linger for a conditions from the word go, and it will lingerfor a time conditions from the word go, and it will linger for a time across the northern isles, but that cloud thick enough for the odd spell of drizzly rain. the best of any sunshine in the east. it stays mild for new year's eve on monday, cloudy skies for many places, a chance of some rain across northern parts of scotland and

temperatures around 10—11. goodbye. this is bbc world news, the headlines yemen's houthi rebels have reportedly begun to withdraw from the key stretegic port of hodeidah. the houthis control most districts of hodeidah — including the port — through which most food and humanitarian aid enters yemen. the head of the electoral commission in sunday's presidential elections have yet to sign a statement which spells out terms to avoid violence during the polling. the leading presidential candidates are holding talks in kinshasa. the uk government has insisted it's working ‘very effectively‘ with france, to tackle an increase in the number of migrants crossing the channel in small boats. more than 200 people have arrived since the start of november. dame june whitfield — celebrated for her comic roles in bbc sitcom terry and june and cult favourite absolutely fabulous — has died aged 93. she was a regular fixture on tv

and radio for six decades. her agent said she died peacefully on friday night. let's learn more about the actress damejudi let's learn more about the actress dame judi whitfield who let's learn more about the actress damejudi whitfield who has died aged 93. she started acting at the aged 93. she started acting at the age of three before studying at rada. sarah campbell looks back at her life. kiss me, kiss me, bite you. kiss me, kiss me, bite youlj kiss me, kiss me, bite you. i can't, i'm vegetarian! june whitfield played alongside british comedy‘s greatest talents. once at night, living in the jungle? well, greatest talents. once at night, living in thejungle? well, it's... ex rather dull and boring, really.

living in thejungle? well, it's... ex rather dulland boring, really. i realised rather early on that i was never going to play the glamorous, you know, leading lady roles. and serious roles i always thought, i'd better not do that, they might laugh at me. and laugh they did. as a comedy performer she first found fame on the radio in the 50s appearing in take it from here with jimmy edwards. butjune whitfield's ability to conjure up characters and soon saw her featuring on television asa soon saw her featuring on television as a foilfor comics soon saw her featuring on television as a foil for comics like pennyhill park and frankie howard. —— like benny hill. in the 80s she teamed up with terry scott in terry and june. hello, darling, i'm in trouble deciding what to do tonight. you can start with an explanation. i'm talking about food, what about eating out? what about the garage?

i'd prefer a restaurant! it was gentle and undermined in comedy, hugely popular and running for eight