28/02/2016 BBC Weekend News

On the front line against Islamic State extremists in northern

Syria - a first hand glimpse of how Kurdish fighters

A BBC team has reached an area liberated from IS -

but still threatened by its truck bombs.

The Kurds got lucky - they found it, they stopped it

It sent debris for hundreds of metres across these fields.

Elsewhere in Syria, as a partial truce holds the UN says it's ready

Also on tonight's programme: After a week of Cabinet division

over Europe - a growing row over access to government papers

The red carpet is ready for tonight's Oscars -

but controversy rages around this year's awards.

They are making the final checks here but for the second year in a

row all the acting nominees are white.

25 years on - a memorial to the British service personnel

And Manchester City win the Capital One Cup -

The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, says the success

of a truce in Syria depends on Russia, with concern

about how its air strikes may derail a fragile process.

Tonight, the truce appears to be largely intact.

The battle against so-called Islamic State goes on however,

and in northern Syria Kurdish fighters backed up by air strikes

have been retaking territory from IS.

Our correspondent Quentin Somerville is live tonight in Northern Syria.

While we have been here, there have been air strikes, there have been

car bombs and there have been shootings, but there's been a

change. This conflict has pivoted, because the battle now appears to be

mainly not solely concentrated on the so-called Islamic State and

al-Nusra Al-Qaeda. There is some haute amongst Syrians here, they are

beginning to use a language almost unfamiliar to them and a word

unfamiliar to them, and that word is calm. But there's also a lot of

caution. My report which follows contained some images which some

viewers may find distressing. But, so, too, still is the fight

against the so-called Islamic State. In Shaddadi, air strikes

and the Kurds drove out IS. Here on these streets,

the militants once held a slave Now, around the corner,

an IS fighter lies dead in the dirt. But Islamic State

can still surprise. American jets help repel

a jet in Talabiad. This town was taken months ago

by the Kurds but IS snipers and commandos attacked in droves

an hour before the truce. And across a long

stretch of territory. The IS attacks have transformed

the security situation Security is a lot

tighter along the road. In fact, it is impassable

from the west. This wasn't just an attack,

ground troops and snipers, they also deployed typical

IS tactics, massive truck bomb. They found it, they stopped it

and they detonated it. It sent debris hundreds of metres

across these fields. Can you imagine the damage that this

would have done to local So, the Kurds have control

here but it is an absolute and, of course, there is no truce

with the Islamic State. But elsewhere the ceasefire

of sorts is mostly holding. It's not a return to normal

life, but it's a start. "Today the jets flew over,

but they didn't bomb, us we hope that they stick

to their word and that calm will continue to prevail and we want

them to stop the regime." Back in Shaddadi, it is a defeat,

not a ceasefire that's making The Islamic State has gone

but their markings "We'll all come back

here to recover our lives taken This time there is

a place for the whole nation, Arabs, Kurds, Christians,

we all live together. The men with guns won't

be disappearing here. And for Syria right now,

that's good enough. Who wouldn't be cynical after nearly

five years of war? But who also wouldn't be desperate for hope?

There is a desperation, a hope that this ceasefire of sorts continues

will stop it is only 48 hours so far. Perhaps peace talks will

restart. There has been some good news tonight. The BBC has learned

from the United Nations that tomorrow, humanitarian aid convoys

will start going in to those towns and cities across Syria which have

been besieged, where people are starving, where people are suffering

malnutrition, where they are in desperate need of medical help. An

indication, perhaps, that these 48 hours have been special and

important, and that for the 150,000 or so people who in the next five

days are going to receive UN aid, are beginning to make a difference.

Quentin Somerville, in northern Syria, thank you.

There's a growing row over the use of civil servants and the access

to government papers in the coming EU referendum campaign.

The head of the civil service, Sir Jeremy Heywood, will be grilled

by MPs over claims ministers campaigning to leave the EU will be

treated differently to ministers who want to stay in the union.

Let's go to our political correspondent Alex Forsyth.

This referendum is exposing profound differences across the political

spectrum, but they are being felt most keenly within the Conservative

Party. This latest row is over the role of the civil service. The

government says the work of its officials can be used to support the

case for the UK staying in the EU, because that is the government's

official position, and ministers who want the UK to leave should have

restricted access to some documents and briefings about the referendum.

But some Eurosceptics think that doesn't make for a fair fight. So

the most senior civil servant has been summoned before MPs to answer

questions later this week. What this shows is how these deep divisions go

to the very heart of government. They are between Cabinet macros

Cabinet colleagues who sit side-by-side, the Work and Pensions

Secretary Iain Duncan Smith at today accused those who want the UK to

stay in of scaremongering, of downplaying Britain's ability to

stand on its own. He didn't name names but he referenced comments

made by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, who say leaving the EU

was a risk, a leap into the dark. Conservatives on both sides of this

debate want to keep it civil, they want to keep it respectful for the

sake of their party, but the tensions between them are growing

and we are only in week one of this campaign. There are still four

months to go. Alex Forsyth at Westminster, thank you.

President Robert Mugabe has celebrated his 92nd birthday

with a party costing hundreds of thousands of pounds in a part

Three million Zimbabweans are facing starvation in the worst drought

since the 1990s, but tens of thousands turned out for a lavish

party attended by Mr Mugabe, who's been in power for 36 years.

Our correspondent Nomsa Maseko reports.

The worst drought to hit Zimbabwe in three decades.

A quarter of the country's population is facing food shortages.

President Robert Mugabe declared a state of disaster,

paving the way for international donors to help out.

If the situation doesn't change, we will also die.

I will be forced to sell all my cattle to feed my family.

There have been downpours in recent days, bringing relief in some areas

where farmers are still hoping for modest harvests.

But the sparse rainfall patterns may do very little to alleviate

By declaring an emergency, Mr Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe

since its independence from Britain in 1980,

is absolving himself and his government from taking

on the responsibility to feed his people.

Yes, we need funding, more funding, more money.

With the help that we are able to get, no matter how little that

help may be, we shall certainly manage to go through this bad patch

These bad patches do come from time to time.

In the midst of this agricultural disaster,

a lavish birthday party for the 92-year-old leader was held

yesterday in Masvingo, one of the areas that has been

Aid, mainly from the United States and the EU, is being distributed

We are looking at a situation now where we are at the tip

of the iceberg and come three or four months from now,

we could have a serious humanitarian catastrophe on our hands.

UN resources are under increasing pressure so it remains to be seen

just how much the international community will be willing

to help to curb malnutrition and diseases.

In Iran, moderate candidates have made sweeping gains

in the country's parliamentary elections.

Votes are still being counted but early results show hardline

conservatives may have lost their majority.

Reformers and moderates supporting President Hassan Rouhani have won

The picture may be more mixed in smaller towns across the country.

Pauline Cafferkey, the British nurse who contracted Ebola

while volunteering in Sierra Leone, has been discharged from hospital

after being treated for the illness for a third time.

The 40-year-old from South Lanarkshire was taken

to the Royal Free Hospital in London for treatment earlier this week

after developing a complication linked to the virus.

Medical staff say she isn't infectious.

The awards ceremony for this year's Oscars begins in Hollywood later

night after a run-up dominated by controversy over a lack

All those in the running for acting awards are white,

something likely to be addressed by the Oscars host,

Our Entertainment Correspondent, Lizo Mzimba, is on the red carpet.

Yes, in just 80 minutes' time the stars will start walking down this

red carpet. It is of course a show watched by millions around the world

and they have been preparing for months, but the one thing they

weren't quite ready for is the storm erupted after for the second year in

a row all the acting nominations went to white performers.

Rapid change, that is what the Academy is promising

as the red carpet is prepared for tonight.

But there is a perceived overall lack of diversity.

This isn't just talking about diversity for the sake

of diversity, this is also bad for business.

It is bad for Hollywood to be so behind the times

that they are not developing projects for people of different

backgrounds and people that look different.

Movies reflect our society and should be a reflection

of who we are as people and for Hollywood not to make

diverse movies really is a big problem.

Actors who have long campaigned for greater adversity are welcoming

that it has become an issue recognised at all levels.

I think it really must start in the boardrooms.

It is going to take bravery and it is going to take courage

and making sure that people aren't fearful to cast black actors

and black actresses in roles that may not traditionally be

For many, the expectation is that this will be the last year

the acting winners are all guaranteed to be white

and that the discussion becomes exclusively

The numbers clearly indicate there were senior clergy involved.

For best film, the Academy loves to reward stories

Will the spotlight fall this year on Spotlight,

a film about the Boston Globe's investigation of a church

When the banks committed the greatest fraud in US history...

Or perhaps The Big Short, about the run-up to the global

But the narrow favourite is perhaps survival drama The Revenant.

Its lead actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, looks almost certain to take Best

Even last year's winner, Eddie Redmayne, nominated

I think it's pretty match certainly Leo's year

I love you, Steve, you know how much.

British acting hopes rest with previous winner Kate Winslet,

nominated for her role in the Steve Jobs movie,

and Mark Rylance, for Cold War drama Bridge Of Spies.

In a year where everyone, including of course this year's

host, recognises that what has been happening around the Oscars has,

to a degree, overshadowed the awards themselves.

The actor Frank Kelly, best known for playing Father Jack

in the cult comedy Father Ted, has died aged 77.

He starred as the foul-mouthed elderly priest between

His stage and screen career, which spanned 60 years,

included roles on Irish TV comedy shows, as well as a minor appearance

With all the sport, here's Olly Foster at the BBC Sport Centre.

Manchester City have won the first trophy of the football season

after beating Liverpool in the League Cup final.

1-1 at the end of extra time, it went to penalties at Wembley

where City's keeper was the match-winner.

Our sports correspondent, Joe Wilson.

You can arrive at Wembley heading in different directions. Manchester

City no longer need manager Pellegrini, whatever he wins.

Liverpool's whole identity is based on Jurgen Klopp. On the pitch, if

there is one man City wanted in this position it was Sergio Aguero. The

goalkeeper was better. Having seen a theme and Mignolet at his best for

Liverpool, then this -- Simon Munir lake.

Oh dear. Space up and -- opened up for City, Raheem Sterling. The

Liverpool attacks had been limited but when a chance fell to Coutinho

he was ready and watch out, here comes a Jurgen Klopp hug. No goals

in extra time, Liverpool managed just one in the penalty shoot out.

Coutinho failed. So did Lallana. Cavaleiro the reserve keeper, Ella

Greaney had trusted. Fancy more drama? Yaya Toure could barely run

but that won it. Of course Manchester City have Champions

League ambitions this season but in sport you take you your trophies

when you can. Waving goodbye like this is how to ensure you will be

missed. Joe Wilson, BBC News, Wembley.

With Leicester still leading the way in the Premier League,

Arsenal and Tottenham were playing catch-up today.

Goals from both their games are on Match of the Day 2

after the news or a little bit later in Scotland.

But if you want to know what happened, then here

Arsenal slipped up, losing 3-2 at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's teenage striker Marcus Rashford,

who scored twice on his debut in the week, scored

Arsenal remain five points off the top of the table.

They are three points behind Tottenham in second.

They came from behind to beat Swansea, Danny Rose with Spurs

2-1 the final score at White Hart Lane.

The new Fifa President, Gianni Infantino, is preparing

He says implementing reform will be his priority but he doesn't

think it will take long to restore the organisation's

The reforms need to be lamented now and be implemented from day one,

immediately. I will go up to the office and start looking at

concretely how to implement these reforms so hopefully we can soon

concentrate on football. In the Women's Six Nations

Championship, Wales are back in the title race after

beating France in Neath. The French were favourites

but the Championship is wide open They play England next

who are still on for the Grand Slam, Scotland are still waiting

for their first win Exeter Chiefs are just three points

behind the leaders Saracens That's after they beat Bath

26-17 at Sandy Park. There were also big wins for Wasps

and Leicester today. There were four matches in the Pro

12, Edinburgh are back in the play-off hunt after a narrow

victory against third-placed A late Ben Tullis try saw

them win 24-23. There were also wins for Munster,

Leinster and Cardiff Blues. Sir Ben Ainslie has had a good

weekend in Oman as his crew came out on top in the America's

Cup World Series. It's the fourth of a series

of regattas spread over two years before

the America's Cup Points count towards qualification

for the main event, with all teams looking to become the sole

challenger to take on the holders, Ainslie was part of their crew that

won the famous trophy in 2013 That it's all your support this

evening. Thank you. 25 years on from the first Gulf War, a memorial was

unveiled today to the British service personnel killed in the

conflict. They died in the desert

a quarter of a century ago. Now their families and friends

have a focus for their memories. During the night, hundreds

of British and American aircraft have attacked targets in Iraq

and occupied Kuwait. A British force of over 50,000

fought with the coalition which combined to drive

Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. After months of preparation,

the ground campaign was over 47 British service personnel

were killed, many more were wounded or suffered from

post-traumatic stress. Jason Glasgow, filmed

at the time, says he will never It may have been naivete,

I were young and brave and just had Now I think I would

worry a bit more. The new memorial, funded by veterans

with the help of the Kuwaiti government, stands above a replica

of the medal awarded to all those There is a lot of talk

that the first Gulf War We have come here after 25 years

to the day to see this magnificent The 1991 war was

inconclusive and costly. Tens of thousands of Iraqis

were killed and the campaign did not end the bloodshed in

the troubled region. But this is one spot where stories

of that brief conflict will be told You can see more on all of today's

stories on the BBC News Channel. That's all from me,

stay with us on BBC1.