23/02/2013 BBC Weekend News

Britain is strepd from its AAA credit rating for the first time in

30 years. He and his policy have failed and he has been downgraded.

If we abandon our commitment to deal with that debt problem, our

situation will get very much worse. And I'm absolutely clear we mustn't

do that. Oscar Pistorius spends his first

day out of custody, as the father of Reeva Steenkamp warns the

athlete will have to live with his conscience if he has lied about how

he killed herment On the trail of the missing Banksy,

a graffiti art work that disappeared from a north London

wall is withdrawn from auction in Miami.

And England remain on course for the Grand Slam after beating France

Good evening. The Chancellor, Georges a born, has rejected accan

you sayss his economic policy is failing after his priced AAA credit

rating was reduced since the first time since the 1970.

Labour says it is a humiliating blow.

Our chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym has more.

It doesn't look much. AAA down to AA 1 but the change has potentially

major implications, not least politically, for a Chancellor, who

in the past has said how important it is for the UK to keep the AAA

rating We'll maintain Britain's AAA credit rating One of the things I'm

coon on doing, putting it mildly, to to preserve Britain's AAA rating.

I asked if it damaged his credibility? Britain has a debt

problem. I agree with that. I have been telling the country for years

that we have a debt problem and we have to deal with it. What do they

also say? If we abandon our commitment to deal with it, the

situation will get worse. I'm clear we mustn't do that. You said in the

Conservative manifesto you would safeguard Britain's credit rating,

that hasn't happened. Isn't that a broken pledge? We made it very

clear we were keen it see Britain's face its problems. I don't think

anyone looking at what this Government has done, would say we

have run away with the problems and not taken the difficult decisions.

But Labour said it lose the top AAA status, even with a tough austerity

plan was embarrassing. He said it would be humiliating to lose AAA.

He said if he had bigger tax rise and spending cuts, would he keep

his AAA rating. He and his policy have failed. The AAA club of

leading economies is smaller than it was. In August 2011 the USA was

downgrade bid one agency, standard and poors. France was stripped of

its AAA rate big the same agency last year and a few months later by

Moody's. Yesterday was the UK's turn. That means only Canada and

Germany remain with AAA status at the leading agencies.

Moody's and the others simply reflect what's already known about

a country's economic problems, so downgrades don't always affect

borrowing costs. We've seen in France and America, they lost their

AAA rating. The cost of their money actually barely changed at all. The

rates are astonishing low and are going to stay low for the time

being. As the political debate over the handling of policy here at

Number 11 Downing Street continues, the first significant reaction from

the financial markets will come when they reopen on Monday morning.

Dealers were anticipating a UK downgrade, but as the reality sinks,

in the value of the pound, weaker against the dollar in recent days,

could be affected. Our political core spon detective

Iain Watson is in Downing Street for us. -- correspondent. How

difficult is this for the Government? It is likely to be more

political damage than economic. It is not a big financial disaster to

get a ungrade. As we have been hearing some other countries

suffered a similar fate without borrowing costs going through the

roof. But this comes after sluggish economic growth and after the news

that the Chancellor is likely to meet death targets but his critics

are saying it is a symptom of wider economic problems. I fully expect

in the run-up to his Budget, some MPs will push him to cut public

spending fast and deeper, Lib Dems will try to push back. But there is

another political problem for the Chancellor. Some MPs are saying -

look, he has invested too much political capital in saying he

could protect Britain's credit rating and, in difficult economic

times that was always going to be tough. Therefore, this has allowed

Labour it start claiming that the Chancellor is now failing -- to

tart claiming that the Chancellor has failed in his own terms and

quite frankly economic credibility can be as difficult to protect as

your credit ratinging. The father of Oscar Pistorius has warned that

he will have to live with his conscience if he killed Reeva

Steenkamp. Barry Steenkamp said Oscar

Pistorius would suffer alone if his explanation was false.

-- the father of Reeva Steenkamp. Out on bail. Oscar Pistorius is

staying at his uncle's house. Probation officers arriving this

afternoon, as part of the strict conditions imposed on the athlete

ahead of his murder trie. He can't leave this city without permission.

His release from custody has divided opinion in South Africa.

I was so disappointed. Then this is saying to us to say - people can

just shoot and be given bail. not a court case. Floss judgment

being given. It's saying - can we hold this guy so the law can have

its way later. That's all that has been decided. I don't think he is a

flight risk. After a week of twists and drama in court. Pistorius's

But the gulf between the two families was underlined again today

when Reeva's family had this to say Oscar Pistorius is not due back in

court now until June. In the meantime, the murder investigation

continues with this country's justice system and two graefg

families -- two griefing families in the international spotlight.

A woman and her elderly parents have died of suspected carbon

monoxide poisoning at a caravan park in Cornwall. The alarm was

raised at lunch time when firefighters broke into the static

caravan at Tremarle Home Park in Cambourne and found the three

family members. Now, a Banksy mural which vanished

from the wall of a shop in north London only to end up at an auction

house in Miami, has tonight been withdrawn from sale at the last

minute. The art work, called Slave Labour shows a boy, hunched over a

sewing machine, making Union Jack bunting. It was expected to fetch

more than �450,000 but prot posed auction had provoked protests from

local rest dents here. -- proposed auction. This piece of art was

Banksy's gift to the British public. Stencilled by Britain's best-known

graffiti artist, it appeared just before the jubilee on the wall of a

north London discount store. Then it disappeared. Only to suddenly

reappear in an auction brochure in America, valued at over �400,000.

Tonight, minutes before the auction was to begin, it was then

dramatically withdrawn from sale, with no explanation.

! Save our Banksy. A victory, perhaps, for the residents of Wood

green, who have been demanding to have that I Banksy back, ever since

it vanished. Banksy gave this to the people. It should be returned.

I hope they feel sufficiently guilty. Wood green isn't known for

anything apart from - well, it is not known for anything. It was nice

it was here. Feelings here may be running high.

But Scotland Yard says no-one has reported a theft. Exactly who

chipped the image off the wall and who is selling it remains a mystery.

The company that owns the property, Wood Green Investments, has

declined to comment. The protesters here say they accept technically it

would appear, at least for now, that no crime has been committed.

But what they argue, is that by taking a piece of art, it was

clearly designed to be on public display, is a act that's both

morally and ethically wrong. piece called Slave Labour was a

cheeky critique of capitalism. The idea that piece is now being sold

in Miami runs counter to the spirit in which it was given. Banksy's

satirical street art has appeared in the nation's public spaces for

well over a decade. Some has fallen into disrepair but its influence on

Britain's newest urban artists is profound. Possibly inspiring this,

a painting that now appeared in the void where Banksy's original image

once stood. Now, it's the biggest night in the

showbiz calendar tomorrow as Hollywood plays host to the Oscars.

There is a raft British talent who will parade down the red carpet

hoping for a gk. Alistair Leithead went to a British cocktail party to

scope out our best chances. The world's most famous red carpet

getting ready for the world'sms famous feet to tread. And at an

Oscars' pre--party in LA. British Oscars were shaken and stirred by

the chance of a gong. Adele is high on the list to win Best Original

Song. No Bond theme has won an Oscar and with a 50th anniversary

celebration planned it, could be Bond's year. At the British party

were a former leading man and a former bondgirl Jane Seymour.

crazy Adele fan. I hope it wins. George Lazenby played James Bond

once, in 1969. None of them were as good as I was. Thasz' for sure.

Despite its title, Les Miserables is a very British movie. Filmed

mostly in Britain, with a British director and producer. There is a

very good argument for several films to be winning. We are

thrilled that Les Miserables is even up for consideration. I

couldn't be happier. One of the hottest tip this is year is Daniel

Day-Lewis as Lincoln. He might have been born in Britain but he prefers

to be known as Irish. This moment, now, now, now. It's

been a long Oscars' week of functions, lunch yons and cocktail

parties. Now Hollywood is in the home straight. This won't be long

before we find out who will be taking those little gold statues

home. Sport now, for a full round of-up

of the action here is Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes.

Good evening. England survived Le Crunch beating France 23-13 in a

bruising Six Nations' battle at Twickenham today. The holders,

Wales, can still win the tournament after a 26-9 victory in Rome but it

is England who have the Grand Slam in their sights with two matches

left to play. Dan Roan was there. The confidence

swirling around Twickenham was palpable. Twice-beat France, the

sick men of the six nations were in familiar disarray, while for

England, unbeaten this campaign, things were looking Rosie. While

the home fans brimed with belief, the players were warive wounded

opponents, more talented than recent results suggested. France

would have to be taimed. England's Owen Farrell had prepared to be

targeted but the fly-half for once, appeared rattled. The visitors then

proved why French unpredictability is such an enduring cliche. The

brilliant Wesley Forfana giving France a deserved lead as England

struggled for flew ency. The hosts improved after the re-

start but they also got lucky. When the balls with kicked forward on to

the off-side, play should have been stopped it. Wasn't. The ball

ricocheted out to Manu Tuilagi and they took full advantage. England

suddenly seven points clear. Farrell was then forceds off with

injury. But while France were weakened by their substitutions,

England seemed galan advised. Toby Flood with two penalties. French

resistance flickered but there was no way back. England had won ugly.

Their impressive resolve, proving decisive. It was a tough Test Match.

The boys have come out on top. It was a great win. We have a week off

and then we will focus on the next game stkwhr. England may have

prevailed but this was a reality check. A reminder there is work to

be done. Nonetheless they remain on course for the first Grand Slam in

a decade. One suspects they'll have to up their game tie chief it.

Wales' boosted their chance of defending their title with a

clinical victory in ro. Tries from Jonathan Davies and then Jonathan

Cuthbert sealing the win. The final day may improve a decider.

England's women didn't fair as well against France, beaten 30-20. It

leaves them fourth in the six nagss' table. Ireland are still top

with a victory over Scotland. Db Six Nations' table. Great Britain's

Becky James has won her first gold title taking the gold in the sprint

in midges. She battled back from losing the first race to beat

Germany's Kristina Vogel. There were six matches in the

Premier League today. Match of the Day follow this programme. If you

don't want to know the scores, this don't want to know the scores, this

is your chance to leave the room. The battle for survival at the

Madejski was won by Wigan or out of the relegation zone, beating

Reading. Kone scoring two goals. Below them QPR are now seven points

from safety, after losing 2-0 to Manchester United who increase

their lead at the top of the table to 15. Aston Villa are now back in

the bottom three, losing 2-1 to Arsenal. Else where, Everton lost

2-1 to Norwich. West Ham beat Sunderland and in the early kick-

off Fulham beat Stoke. In the Scottish Premier League,

Celtic play Dundee tomorrow. Inverness beat Hearts. St Johnstone

had a 1-0 home win against St Mirren.

England's cricketers have won their first One Day Series against New

Zealand for nearly 20 years with a five wicket victory in the decider

in Auckland. Steven Finn claimed three for 27 as the hosts were all