is his agency's top priority. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. we start in yemen — where houthi rebels are pressing hard to capture the key city of mareb. it's the last stronghold of the internationally recognised government — and at the heart of yemen's oilfields. the fall of mareb would be a major turning point in the conflict that's been going on for years.saudi arabia — backed by the us and uk — intervened in yemen in 2015 — after the houthis ousted the government from the capital, sanaa.since then — yemen has suffered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. all sides of the conflict have been accused of killing civilians — and other abuses. at least 800,000 people displaced by the war have fled to mareb — and more are on their way. 0ur middle east editor jeremy bowen made his way to the city and a warning his report contains some distressing images. the plains outside marib are not much of a refuge, but it's all there is for more than 16,000 people who have fled the houthi offensive in the last three months. at this camp, the newest arrivals are in flimsy tents with little food and salty water. children don't have schools. in the desert, the nights are cold. they've lost almost everything, except enough trauma for a lifetime. between them, these two women have fled the fighting with their families 11 times in four years. this woman said her six children freeze in the ripped tent. translation: e witnessed everything. fear and panic every time. the kids are terrified when they hear missiles or shooting. so, she was wounded? her daughter was badly hurt in a houthi attack. her two—month—old son was killed. these are pictures of dead people. she gets them to draw theirfrightening memories. he's lost his leg. translation: my kids saw bodies blown to pieces. - in the evening, my seven—year—old says he sees ghosts. they are haunted by the people they saw killed. they blame the houthis. mostly women and children are in the camps. the men, the un says, are dead orfighting. what lies beneath all of this is the war. war kills people, war makes people move, war creates the crisis, and the way this war ends is not in the hands of yemenis, because big regional powers have intervened. the people are suffering because of the fault lines that run right through the middle east. they sing. government soldiers took us to the front line. this is important part of the whole procedure. a team of british surgeons from manchester is here, bringing expertise and equipment the hospital just doesn't have. there's a lack of- doctors and the local doctors are exhausted. they are doing long shifts, and the injuries they are l getting are quite complex, so they are providing - the minimum treatment with l the basic equipment they have. as soon as they're fit again, these men will be rushed back to fight the houthi advance. the grinding battle for marib is being watched closely by influential yemeni tribes. they will make a deal with the winners. and among the wounded, some defiance. you will fight again afterwards? yes. well, you've got one arm. the war pushes into every life. marib, a city of more than 2 million, has two malnutrition centres, each with 11 beds. two others were in areas captured by the houthis. of every 100 children, ten have malnutrition, and of those ten, two are severely malnourished. this baby, six months old, weighs 2.5 kilos — less than many newborns. in ten days of treatment, she's gained 100g. this is what war does. it destroys lives. notjust babies. for everyone. jeremy bowen, bbc news, marib. it's emerged that the omicron strain of coronavirus may have been spreading around the world earlier than previously thought. tests show it was present in a sample taken in the netherlands five days before it was first reported to the world health organisation by south africa. meanwhile the boss of one of the biggest covid—vaccine producing companies has warned that he doesn't think the currentjabs will be as effective against the new strain as they have been against the previous ones. sara monetta reports... as the omicron strain continues to spread around the world, with cases detected across europe, in canada, and now injapan, the question being asked is, how effective will the existing vaccines be against it? the answer, according to the boss of moderna, which produces one of the most widely used jabs, is not as effective. stephane bancel told reporters... he added... that could take weeks, or even months. in the meantime, several major vaccine manufacturers have said they are ready to tweak their shots if needed. and china, which produces its own vaccines, is taking similar steps. translation: it is stilll currently unclear if these mutations in the omicron variant can lead to vaccines being less effective. however, china has already made the technological preparations to adapt our vaccines. despite questions over the effectiveness of current vaccines against the new variant, countries are renewing their efforts to administer the jabs to their populations. the uk is speeding up a programme of third booster shots. greece is introducing fines for those over 60 who haven't been vaccinated. translation: i have no doubt that this political decision - will save human lives because vaccination becomes more thanjust compulsory — it saves lives. it's necessary for health. it's necessary for the whole society. meanwhile, health officials in the netherlands have confirmed that omicron was in the country by the 19th of november. that's before the flight from southern africa linked to an outbreak. one of the two had been through southern africa, the other had not. this means that this - person most likely ended up in the netherlands. the size of the chain of- transmission is not known yet. while vaccine efficacy against omicron is being questioned, experts believe the tests used to detect it will still identify infections from the new strain. but only laboratory analysis can confirm that omicron is present, meaning the true scale of the spread and how serious its effects are may not emerge for some time. sara monetta, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news. at least three people have been killed in a shooting at a michigan high school. eight others were wounded, including a teacher. officials say a 15—year—old suspect is in custody, and a semi—automatic handgun has been recovered. the trial of the british socialite ghislaine maxwell, in new york, has heard from a woman who says she was groomed for abuse from the age of fourteen. the woman, who's now in herforties, says she was first approached by maxwell and the millioniare financier, jeffrey epstein, ata summer camp. she says epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial, abused her on multiple occasions. maxwell denies sex trafficking and other charges. thousands of people in parts of scotland and the north of england are bracing themselves for a fifth night without power after storm arwen left infrastructure devastated. extra engineers are being deployed. frustration is growing, with some electricity companies warning that supplies may not resume until later this week. donald trump's former chief of staff, mark meadows, has agreed to give evidence to the congressional committee, investigating the january the 6th riot at the capitol building. here's anthony zerker. mark meadows was donald trump's chief of staff on january six so he may have information about donald trump's activities, contacts and lack of activity during the assault on the us capital so the idea that mark meadows now after being subpoenaed and reluctant to cooperate is turning over documents and will schedule a time and he will speak in person. i think that is important. of course, it depends on what those documents have and what mark meadows says but it is a breakthrough in the congressional investigation into donald trump's activities but i think the indictment of steve bannon he was also subpoenaed and refused to cooperate and was held in contempt of congress is reluctance to cooperate and now his indictment, i think that may have put extra pressure on mark meadows. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: accorded her place next to french national icons, legendary singer and activist josephine baker is inducted into the pantheon in paris. it's quite clear that the worst victims of this disaster are the poor people living in the slums which have sprung up around the factory. we feel so helpless. the children are dying in front of me and i can't do anything. charles manson is the mystical leader of the hippie cult suspected of killing sharon tate and at least six other people in los angeles. at 11 o'clock this morning, just half a metre of- rock separated britain i from continental europe. it took the drills just i a few moments to cut through the final obstacle, - then philippe cossette, a miner from calais, was shaking hands and exchanging flags _ with his opposite . number from dover. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: the results of covid tests from the netherlands suggest the new omicron variant was already spreading round the world before it was identified in south africa. let's stay with that story now. professorjohn swartzberg is an infectious disease expert and vaccinologist at u.c. berkeley's school of public health. thank you forjoining us. we are hearing about more and more cases around the world. today, japan, france and brazil but surely this is all around the world now? i hope so —— think so. we know it has been found in canada on sunday so it is just a matter of time before we identify it. just a matter of time before we identify it— identify it. stock markets fell aloball identify it. stock markets fell globally on — identify it. stock markets fell globally on the _ identify it. stock markets fell globally on the news - identify it. stock markets fell globally on the news that - identify it. stock markets fell| globally on the news that may be the vaccine is not as effective against the strain. our worrying is that? it effective against the strain. our worrying is that? it was a premature — our worrying is that? it was a premature and _ our worrying is that? it was a premature and ill-advised - premature and ill—advised announcement by madonna. we don't know whether the vaccines are going to work against this new or how well they will work against it. it could be that the omicron responds reasonably well to the immunity from vaccination. we would have had to wait and see. we will have a much better idea in the lab tests are written in ten of ia days. it tests are written in ten of 14 da s. , . , tests are written in ten of 14 das. ,.,y , days. it is early days but doctors _ days. it is early days but doctors in _ days. it is early days but doctors in south - days. it is early days but doctors in south africa l days. it is early days but i doctors in south africa said that from their investigations the symptom be milder than other strains of the disease. well, that is very nice to hear that and i hope that is true. it is so early in the course of this emergence of this new variant that i don't think we can really draw many conclusions about how sick it is going to make people. i pray that it wouldn't be as sick as delta. ., . ., , that it wouldn't be as sick as delta. ., _, , ., delta. from countries and agencies _ delta. from countries and agencies reactions - delta. from countries and agencies reactions to - delta. from countries and | agencies reactions to think delta. from countries and - agencies reactions to think the word in government are slowly learning how to try and cope a little bit more effectively with covid 19 and they did when it first appeared?— it first appeared? yes. i would emphasise _ it first appeared? yes. i would emphasise the _ it first appeared? yes. i would emphasise the editor- it first appeared? yes. i would emphasise the editor slowly. i it first appeared? yes. i would i emphasise the editor slowly. we still seem to be fumbling our way through this to a large extent but we are in much better shape in terms of dealing with this than we dealt with delta or that we dealt with delta or that we dealt with alpha so i think that we know what to do, it is just a question of really doing it in a robust fashion. we question of really doing it in a robust fashion.— question of really doing it in a robust fashion. we see this disease and _ a robust fashion. we see this disease and virus _ a robust fashion. we see this disease and virus evolving. i disease and virus evolving. will this be one of versions of the virus? i will this be one of versions of the virus?— will this be one of versions of the virus? i hope not. clearly, the virus? i hope not. clearly, the virus _ the virus? i hope not. clearly, the virus are _ the virus? i hope not. clearly, the virus are sending - the virus? i hope not. clearly, the virus are sending us - the virus? i hope not. clearly, the virus are sending us a - the virus are sending us a message that it is going to throw out a new variant utters on a fairly regular basis. i do think, though, that our vaccines are incredibly powerful weapon against this and if we could just get more people vaccinated notjust in our respective countries but worldwide, this virus is going to have a tough time reproducing. every person who is not immune to this virus is essentially a viral factory and a viable factory is a valiant factory so we just have to get the word immunised.- factory so we just have to get the word immunised. thank you very much _ the word immunised. thank you very much indeed _ the word immunised. thank you very much indeed for— the word immunised. thank you very much indeed for bringing . very much indeed for bringing us up to date with that. the head of britain's secret intelligence service mi6 says that his team's main preoccupation at present is the threat posed by china. in a rare public appearance — richard moore warned that china had the capability to �*harvest data from around the world' — and to use money to �*get people on the hook�*. he added that these traps threatened to erode sovereignty — and that they have already prompted defensive measures. i would describe often the way china goes about its work developing ai in particular. it is trying to harvest data from around the world. and it is also trying to use influence through its economic policies to try and sometimes, i think, get people on the hook. i talk about data traps and debt traps and they will use them for an average. just spell that out? so, i think a debt trap is something we are all fairly familiar with that if you take on loans and then you find it difficult to repay them then we have seen some examples of this were the chinese have then been able to acquire significant ports which have the potential to become naval facilities etc. the data trap is best. that if you allow another country to gain access to villa critical data about your society, over time that will erode your sovereignty. you no longer have control over that data. that is something that in the uk we are very alive too and we are taking measures to defend the goods. at the list with all the conversations i have around the globe and am very keen that people should understand that. that was richard moore speaking a little bit earlier. bryan cunningham is the executive director of the university of california, irvine cybersecurity policy & research institute. bryan previously helped to shape the us governments cyber security defence policies. we hear a lot about russia when we talk about security. cyber or otherwise. it should more here was focusing on china. i think it is right to do that. i have to say, i was struck by the fact that suddenly i'm older than the head of one of the two premier western intelligence services but that career that i have had an intelligence on government policy and technology, entrepreneurship and academia has given me a perspective to strongly support what he said. i'm a little nonplussed by the threat of quantum computing which is one of the things he has mentioned. i've been hearing about that emerging immediately since i've been in that business but there will be some technology that would change power and the globe and how the countries that have it to use it will make a huge difference and i think one of the biggest problem is that we have in the west, particularly in my country, is this growing hostility between western governments and their technology and academic sectors and we will need to get that turnaround if we're to compete globally. turnaround if we're to compete aloball . ., ., , ., globally. how do see the role oftech globally. how do see the role of tech companies _ globally. how do see the role of tech companies changing l of tech companies changing regarding security and intelligence services? how does that work? you're coming from two very different perspectives. on one hand tech companies trying to make money and improve their product and on the other hand you've got agencies and governments trying to protect their security. i am a little bit _ to protect their security. i am a little bit old — to protect their security. i am a little bit old school - to protect their security. i am a little bit old school about i a little bit old school about this. i do think that big technology companies need to take sides. i think that there is good and evil in the world and western democracies are still on the good side of that. at a minimum, technology companies in the united states should be at least as willing to work with and support and trust their own government as governments in china and russia and i would say the same in the uk. you can be certain that in these authoritarian regimes they are compelling the cooperation of all of their companies and any other company thatis companies and any other company that is in the country and we willjust that is in the country and we will just lose that is in the country and we willjust lose if we don't that is in the country and we will just lose if we don't find a way for big tech to be able to be independent and make money and still support their governments. it money and still support their governments.— governments. it is quite rare to hear from _ governments. it is quite rare to hear from one _ governments. it is quite rare to hear from one of - governments. it is quite rare to hear from one of the - governments. it is quite rare to hear from one of the head to hearfrom one of the head honchois to hearfrom one of the head honcho is of something like mi6. does this mark a tack, do you think? mig. does this mark a tack, do you think?— you think? what it indicates is how severe — you think? what it indicates is how severe he _ you think? what it indicates is how severe he sees _ you think? what it indicates is how severe he sees the - you think? what it indicates is| how severe he sees the threat. he thought it was worth breaking the glass and going public very early in his tenure. the first day, i'm not sure. because of how significant your services see this thread and i think our services would agree with that. and most recent congressional testimony by arrowheads of our intelligence agencies they site the china technology competition is a threat and they are right. i bet we took a lot longer i'm sure but that is all we have time for. thank you. thank you. france has honoured the singer and activist, josephine baker with a place in the pantheon. she's the first black woman to be remembered in the resting place of france's national heroes, through her work on civil rights and for the resistance during the second world war. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson reports. idealist and idol, singer and spy. josephine baker, adored by paris a century ago, was the star of france again today. her symbolic coffin made its way towards the pantheon carrying handfuls of earth from the four corners of her life — paris, missouri, monaco, where she's buried, and the village in france where she raised her children. translation: you're entering. our pantheon because you loved france and you showed the way. born american, at heart, there's no—one more french than you. baker crossed the atlantic to escape segregation. in paris, she found fame with audiences hungry for american idols, using her celebrity to fight racism and pass messages for the french resistance during the second world war. this is one of the greatest honours france can bestow — a seat in the resting place of its national heroes. josephine baker is the first black woman to be honoured here, a member of france's wartime resistance movement and a lifelong campaigner against racism. that campaign shaped herfamily, too. baker adopted 12 children from around the world, calling it her rainbow tribe. these children represent an example of real brotherhood. they show to people that it is possible to live together if we so wish to. the pantheon today echoed with her trademark song, j'ai deux amours, a love song to paris, as the city that revered her a century ago claimed herforever as its own. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. adele has announced a residency at caesar's palace in las vegas. she follows in the footsteps of celine dion and sir elton john. the singer's latest album, 30, is the fastest—selling of the year. tickets for the weekend performances go on sale on december the 7th. now, some nice pictures to leave you with. a zoo in western france welcomed a newborn pygmy hippo this month... the calf is the mother's third offspring and zookeepers say she's been very protective, and not let it out of her sights. hello there. after a spell of cold weather, the final day of november brought a return to something milder, something much milder, in fact — westerly winds which fed a lot of cloud across the uk but brought temperatures of 12, 13 or 1a degrees in many places. away from the far north, cold air clung on across shetland and that cold air has been staging a return over recent houi’s. this area of low pressure has worked its way through. and that plunge of cold air will continue to take effect as we head through wednesday, the first day of december, the first day of the meteorological winter. and it will feel like it for many of us. there will be some spells of sunshine, but we'll see showers or longer spells of rain drifting southwards, some wintry weather mixing in over high ground, especially across the northern half of the uk. and if we do see any showers into northern scotland through the afternoon, they are likely to fall as snow to very low levels indeed. it will remain windy, particularly gusty winds around the coasts, gusts of a0 to 50 miles per hour and temperatures, if anything, coming down as the day goes on. so afternoon values between two and nine degrees. with that brisk wind, it will feel cold out there. now, through wednesday night, we will see some clear spells, some wintry showers too. could see some snow to relatively low levels across parts of eastern england. certainly snow to low levels in the northern part of scotland and temperatures, well, they will drop very close to freezing, below freezing in places. a widespread frost and perhaps some icy stretches to contend with on thursday morning. still quite breezy to start thursday. still some wintry showers, particularly in the east. but this area of high pressure is going to be trying to build its weight in, so that means we will see more in the way of dry weather. as we go through the day, the showers will become fewer and further between. there will be more dry weather, some spells of sunshine, although our next frontal system will be introducing cloud and some rain into northern ireland and the far west of scotland. a very chilly feeling day indeed, highs between three and nine degrees. and then another change in the weather as we move out of thursday into friday. this frontal system pushes eastwards. some snow on its leading edge, but this will be introducing milder air once again from the atlantic, so a bit of rain around in places on friday. there will be some good spells of dry weather as well, but it will feel milder to end the week. this is bbc news, the headlines: tests in the netherlands suggest the omicron covid strain may have spread around the world before it was first reported to the world health organization by south africa. over a dozen countries and territories have detected cases, giving a clearer picture of how long the variant has been circulating. mark meadows, donald trump's former chief of staff, has agreed to make a deposition before the congressional investigation into the assault on the capitol. the committee says mr meadows has already provided records on the incident. former president trump has urged his associates to ignore the probe. entertainerjosephine baker has been honoured with a place in the pantheon in paris. she's the first black woman to be inducted, and is recognised for her contribution to the performing arts, civil rights activism, and her work as a french resistance agent during the second world war. borisjohnson was challenged repeatedly at his downing street news conference yesterday about guidance