16/12/2017 BBC Weekend News

Good afternoon.

A special meeting to elect

a new leader of South Africa's

governing party, the ANC,

has been delayed by arguments over

who is allowed to vote.

President Jacob Zuma,

who's been beset by allegations

of corruption, is standing down.

There are fears among members

that the vote could split the party

ahead of the next presidential

election in 2019.

Our correspondent

Pumza Fihlani reports.

A call for change by members

of the embattled African National

Congress.

These are some of the delegates

who will be voting for the

ANC's next leader.

The party has never been

more divided, but it is

trying to present a united front.

These people waiting

patiently have the future

of the ANC in their hands,

and possibly even South Africa's.

The front-runners are ANC veteran

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and deputy

president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Under Jacob Zuma's

leadership, the party has

been plagued by allegations of

corruption and cronyism, and the row

over his governance has split

the party down the middle.

There is a desire that the vote

should bring Africa's

oldest liberation

movement back together.

I hope that on the conference

floor people find one

another, because it

has not been easy over

the last five years to come here.

It is a hope against hope, maybe,

but I hope that the life of the

ANC which is dying slowly,

somehow surgery will be

performed here today

and that the patient will be saved.

The ANC has been losing support

in the last few years,

and the two candidates have very

different ideas on

how to arrest that decline.

It has been such a bitter fight that

whoever wins will have the difficult

task of bringing the opposing

faction on board but with a national

election in just two years,

many

say unless the party cleans up

house, it could find

itself out of power for the first

time since the end of apartheid.

Pumza Fihlani, BBC

News, Johannesburg.

Barry Sherman, a billionaire

who founded Canada's largest

drugs firm, and his wife, Honey,

have been found dead

at their home in Toronto.

Police described the deaths as

suspicious, but said they were not

being treated as murder.

Barry Sherman was one

of Canada's richest people.

Angus Crawford reports.

One of Toronto's richest

suburbs, a house for sale.

In the basement, a discovery,

two bodies, a man and a woman.

Barry Sherman and his wife,

Honey, one of the richest

couples in the country.

Police can't yet say what happened.

The circumstances of their death

lead us to believe that there may be

suspicious circumstances.

It is an investigative tool.

Until we know exactly how they died,

we treat it as suspicious.

Barry Sherman, who was 75,

is thought to be worth

more than £2 billion.

He made his money in

pharmaceuticals, setting up

Apotex in the 1970s,

and building it into one

of the biggest drugs

companies in the world.

Stepping down as chief executive

in 2012, he dedicated

himself to charity work.

Today, Canadian premier

Justin Trudeau said he and his wife

sent their condolences

to the Shermans' family and friends

and everyone touched

by their vision and spirit.

This woman, an employee,

came to the couple's home to place

flowers and pay her respects.

She still couldn't believe the news.

People look up to him.

People are in shock, crying.

They are genuinely heartbroken.

For now, the investigation continues

into two deaths which leave

a community in shock,

and a family in mourning.

Officials in California say

the biggest of the wildfires

which have driven tens of thousands

of people from their homes now

covers nearly 400 square miles.

A firefighter has died tackling

the flames north of Los Angeles.

Our correspondent James Cook

sent this report from

the town of Fillmore.

12 days on and still it burns.

More than 8,000 men and women

are now battling this blaze,

saving homes one by one.

Not far from here, the fire claimed

the life of 32-year-old

Cory Iverson, a firefighter,

a father and a husband.

He is survived by his

wife, Ashley, his two-

year-old daughter, Evie.

Cory and Ashley are expecting

a second daughter this spring.

The fire has destroyed homes, too.

More than 700 of them and another

18,000 buildings remain at risk.

This is one of five homes

in this tiny neighbourhood

which was destroyed when the flames

swept through here so fast

that firefighters had

to abandon the area.

Which ones survived

and which were destroyed

was a matter of pure luck.

Aaron Lawson and his family

were among the lucky ones.

Their home was scorched,

but it survived, thanks in part

to neighbours who lost everything

but stayed to fight the fire.

The most rewarding thing is seeing

them, some of the guys

who lost their houses,

working with us, side by side,

to keep our houses safe

those first few days.

All week, they have been racing

to contain the fire,

and with fierce winds forecast again

tonight, that battle

is about to intensify.

James Cook, BBC News,

Fillmore in California.

The renowned scientist

and television presenter Heinz Wolff

has died at the age of 89.

A

With his trademark bow tie and hair,

the German-born inventor became

known to British TV audiences

in the '70s and '80s

on The Great Egg Race,

which encouraged teams to invent

useful things out

of everyday objects.

More than one million homes

and offices across the UK

still struggle to get good

broadband, according

to the communications regulator.

Although coverage is improving,

a report by Ofcom found that roughly

4% of properties in the UK

were stuck with slow

internet speeds.

The situation remains

worse in rural areas,

with 17% of homes having

a poor connection.

With all the sport,

here's Mike Bushell

at the BBC Sport Centre.

Another incredible batting display

by Australia captain Steve Smith has

put his side in a dominant position

in the third Test in Perth.

They lead England by 146 runs

with six wickets in hand and victory

in this match would give

them the Ashes.

Our sports correspondent

Andy Swiss was watching.

The day to remember for two

Australians. For 11 Englishmen, one

to forget. This is when their Ashes

dream finally died at the hands of

batting brilliant. First, Steve

Smith resuming on 92 he soon reached

his century. As it turned out, he'd

barely started. At the other end,

some hope, Moeen Ali removing Shaun

Marsh. Little did they know it would

be the only wicket of the day. And

his little brother, Mitchell Marsh,

showed his sibling how it is done.

Australia were ruthless. England's

bowling toothless, flailing to all

corners. It was hard to watch.

Marsh's aggression reaped its

rewards. A first test 100, the

delight of his fans and family. The

rungs kept coming, so did

milestones. Smith completed his

double century. The world's number

one batsman with another masterclass

as Australia piled on the mystery.

Smith still there on two to nine,

Marchant 189. On a day when England

pose Mac -- England's bowling

limitations were exposed. We don't

have the pace and we haven't got

perhaps the highest quality of

magical spin. We have got what we've

got and we've had to work

exceptionally hard to day. England

have seen some dark days in this

series but none quite as grim as

this. They will need something very

special if they are to save this

match and save their Ashes hopes. ,

Mitchell and Marsh had some sympathy

for England's bolus, but not too

much.

They are obviously tired. Any

time you spend a overs in the dirt,

it is hard work. You walk off the

ground very tired and sore. I am not

sure we have broken their spirit,

but we have put ourselves in a good

position to win this magic we bat

well tomorrow.

The late game is the big one today.

Manchester City, 11 points clear

at the top of the table

and on a 15-match winning run,

take on Tottenham at the Etihad.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has

suggested City can go

through the season unbeaten,

as his side did in

the early noughties.

That belongs to Arsene Wenger and

his amazing Arsenal in 2004. It is

important that we try to play

better, that is the most important

thing. The record is always there.

One day it is going to be broken.

But the day's action

is already under way.

Leicester are playing

Crystal Palace and it's

the visitors who have the lead.

Christian Benteke the scorer

after 19 minutes.

It is approaching half-time.

It is

now 2-0 two palace. They are

improving under Roy Hodgson, their

new manager. It is Wilfried Zaha who

has got the second for Crystal

Palace.

Palace can move out of the bottom

three with a point today.

And Graeme Shinnie has

given Aberdeen a 1-0 lead

against Hibernian in the Scottish

Premiership.

With leaders Celtic not

playing until tomorrow,

Aberdeen can narrow the gap to two

points with a win this afternoon.

2-0 there to Aberdeen.

Now, they fund themselves,

sort their own food

and travel to compete

and in the Bobsleigh World Cup

the British team of Mica McNeill

and Mica Moore came tenth

in the latest race in Austria so

they're continuing to defy the odds

since their funding was cut.

That also gave them fourth place

in the European Championships.

That is all the sport for now.

Crystal Palace with that 2-0 lead,

heading to 14th in the Premier

League. Heady days for the Eagles.

Thank you.

You can see more on all of today's

stories on the BBC News Channel.

The next news on BBC One is at 5:25.

Bye for now.

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