27/02/2012 BBC World News

A third Oscar for Meryl Streep - but the film industry's biggest

night of the year belongs to the winner of best picture - The Artist.

I love you. Syrian forces step up efforts to

crush rebels - We'll hear from our correspondent in the north of the

country. Russian television reports a failed

plot to assassinate the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.

Also in this programme, Australia's Prime Minister fights off the

challenge from the man she ousted from power. And after a decade

after the end of see really known's civil war, how exports to China are

turning around the country's fortunes.

Hello and welcome. The silent, black and white film,

The Artist, has won five Oscars at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los

Angeles. It beat off eight other short-listed films to take the

biggest prize of the night - the award for Best Picture. It's the

first silent movie to win the title since the first Oscar ceremony 83

years ago. The Artist's, Michel Hazanavicius, also scooped the

award for Best Director. And its leading man, Jean Dujardin, was

named Best Actor. Meryl Streep won the Best Actress Oscar - her third

- for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Christopher Plummer was named Best Supporting Actor, and The Help's,

Octavia Spencer, beat her co-star, Jessica Chastain, to win as best

supporting actress. Alastair Leithead reports from Los Angeles.

They were falling over themselves to impress some of the most well-

known names on the planet. Swinging from the rafters in Hollywood, for

the biggest night of the year. Enjoy yourselves because nothing

can take the sting out of the economic problems like millionaires

presenting themselves with golden statues. Martin Scorsese 15

technical awards, but Octavia Spencer won best supporting actress.

I have to thank my family in Alabama.

Kenneth Branagh was nominated for best supporting actor, but

Christopher Plummer won his first award, aged 82, the oldest actor

ever to win an Oscar. You are only two years older than me, where have

you been all of my life?! It must have felt like a last buy smack --

like time since Meryl Streep won an Oscar, 30 years ago when Margaret

Thatcher was Prime Minister. It was her portrayal as the Iron Lady that

one a third Academy Awards. looked out here and I see my life

before my eyes. My old friends and my new friends. Thanks to all of

you, departed and here for this inexplicably wonderful career.

Thanks so much. But for all of the big names in the audience, the

night belongs to Hollywood outsiders. As predicted, The Artist

began its winning streak of statuettes with Best costume, best

score and best director. I am the happiest director in the world

right now. And facing a cast list including Brad Pitt and George

Clooney, the best actor went to a Frenchman for the first time.

the Oscar goes to, Jean Dujardin, The Artist.

They top the whole thing off with this picture,. And the last one was

at the very first Oscars in 1929. Spain's Supreme Court has steered a

man for trying to investigate atrocities of the Franco era. On

what basis was this judge cleared? He was clear on the basis that what

he was doing was defensible in legal terms, according to Spain's

Supreme Court. Seven Supreme Court judges made a majority decision

clearing the judge, a controversial figure in Spain, who was loved by

the political left and hated by the right. And that it living relatives

of those who went missing under Spain's dictatorship of General

Franco. That is what the judge was trying to investigate and that is

why this case was brought against him. A civil action and by a right-

wing political group, brought this action for trying to investigate

past crimes committed under the Franco regime and for allegedly

breaking Spain's might Franco died so Spain could move on and forget

the alleged crimes of the past. It is a significant case and a

significant decisions. Does it mean the judge can continue with his

investigation? It does. It is a very confusing story. People might

remember, just over a week ago, he was found guilty by the Supreme

Court in a separate case. It was to do with a corruption case he was

investigating. He was an guilty of denying the suspects in that case,

the right to a fair trial. He was suspended from being a judge for 11

years. I'll vote he has been cleared in his poignant case, a

case that has attracted a lot of controversy here and abroad,

because he was found guilty in the previous case, he cannot be a judge

for 11 years and he cannot appeal that decisions.

I am sure there is much more to say on that, but for now, thanks for

that. Now the business news.

The German Parliament is holding a special session later on today to

discuss the bail-out package degrees. It is expected to be voted

through, but the Chancellor may need to rely on opposition votes as

antique Greeks sentiment grows within her party and two of the

party. The German finance minister has written to lawmakers are urging

them to support the package, but could not rule out the possibility

of Greece might have needed more cash.

The G20 finance ministers who have been meeting in Mexico, have agreed

Europe will have to put up more money to fight the debt crisis if

it is to get further help from the rest of the world. It piles

pressure on to Germany to drop its opposition to a bigger European

bale-out. George Osborne said he wanted "see the colour of the

eurozone's money before Britain or other countries pledged extra money

for the International Monetary Fund".

The chief executive of the Berlin Stock Exchange says the vote will

go through today, but it is not over. In the past Germany was quite

contained about are we going to help the Greeks to the bitter end?

Now it looks like more and more people are saying it is not going

to work, we will need more money and maybe the money would be used

elsewhere in a better wake. Greece is only the first one, we have

Portugal on the line and talking now about an increase of the

overall fund, not only in the G20, but also in Angela Merkel's

Conservative Party indicates everybody realise the package is

much too small and will have to be increased drastically.

Prudential is considering moving its headquarters from London to

escape tough, new capital rules for the European insurer. Britain's

biggest insurer did not specify where it will move to. There has

been speculation it could shift to Hong Kong, in recognition of Asia's

large contribution to its growth. Joining me from BC Partners is

Louise Cooper. Is this just a warning to the European and

American regulators, they don't like the new rules, or is there

more to it? I think there is probably more to it. The financial

services industry is being hit by a raft of financial regulation coming

from the European Union. Vast amounts. Some of it, according to

the industry, is ill-thought-out. They are upset about the solvency

two, which may force the Prudential to put a lot more capital a side

because of their big American business. This means they wouldn't

have the capital to invest in new markets like Asia and therefore

they are considering moving. The statement from the Prudential

wasn't usually clear, but it basically said, yes we are thinking

about it. It follows all the weekend speculation a move to Asia

is on the cards. HSBC, it is not unscathed by the financial crisis,

but it is not done too badly compared with a lot of its rivals?

HSBC did by big US mortgage business just before the home loan

crisis hit in the States. That was its biggest exposure. But this

company as a bank is benefiting from being in Asia and not having a

big presence in Europe. It is one of the few banks to retain its

profitability targets. Last week we saw Lloyds and RBS saying they were

sorry, they were not going to achieve the profits they thought.

HSBC saying, everything is still on, we are benefiting from the growth

in Asia. However, things like Investment Banking which has been

hit across the board in all of the major banks, their investment

banking profits are down 24%. Yes, it is doing significantly better

than most other European banks, but still being hit on the sidelines.

And on the Bundestag vote, it will go through? It is expected to go

through, we have a vote in Finland and the Netherlands on Wednesday

and they also have to approve the Greek bail-out deal for its stock

let's have a look at some of the other stories.

Olympus has opposed a new board of directors. It has to go to a

shareholder vote. The company said it nominated an insider, executive

officer to become President and a former banker to become chairman.

The civil trial over the 2010 D water horizon accident has been

delayed for a week to allow further talks for settlement. The BP

operated rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 and killed

11 workers. It leaked 4 million barrels of oil. The trial is to

resolve claims for damages and civil penalties as well.

Markets, very briefly. We have at the Euro looking strong at the

moment, confidence coming back. Gold is looking strong. The Asian

All of them down. That is it from the business.

This is BBC World News, still to come: Russian television reports a

failed plot to assassinate the Colombia's largest left-wing rebel

group, the FARC, says it will free the hostages it still holds and

abandon kidnappings. There have been huge protests since the FARC

killed four hostages they'd held for more than 12 years. The group

is believed to be holding 10 members of the security forces,

some of whom have been detained for up to 14 years. Daniel Griffiths

has more. Columbia's rebels have been fighting one of the world's

longest civil wars fpls -- wars. P for nearly 50 years they have been

fighting. Now the rebel group says it will free some hostages and

abandon its policy of kidnapping. These are some of the captives

likely to be released. They're members of the Columbian security

forces. Relatives celebrated. This woman's brother has been a FARC

hostage for 13 years. TRANSLATION: Oh so much happiness. I'm overjoyed.

I'm thanking good for this blessing of my brother coming back, as well

as all the soldiers. With money from drug trafficking, FARC is a

powerful force in rural Columbia. But in recent years it has suffered

losses, including the death of two of its leaders. This announcement

may be a sign that the FARC is interested in peace. But it hasn't

mentioned the many civilians it still holds captive, or promised an

end to the fighting and Columbia's president has said the move is

welcome, but not enough. At least three people are feared dead in

Canada after a train derailed in ontear ya. A number of people were

trapped. New Zealand police have arrested the actress Lucy Lawless

and five Greenpeace activists who staged a protest on a drilling

tower. A federal trial over the worst offshore oil disaster in

American history has been detailed. BP said it was involved in

negotiations to reach a deal to compensate people and businesses

affected by the deep Water disaster. This is BBC world news. The

headlines: The silent film The Artist has won five Oscars. In

Syria the army is reported to have broadened its offensive against

rebel-held towns in the north of the country. The BBC has been

unable to verify this footage from Homs which appears to show an area

coming under a barrage of rockets. Another town has come under attack.

The BBC's Iain Panel is in sir told us what he has witnessed. -- is in

Syria and told us what he 45 witnessed. The bombardment started

in this area which has been peaceful for the last week, it has

been under the control of the opposition, the free Syrian Army.

They are based in this town. We know a Government offensive has

been taking place in a near by town and the people here are concerned

they would turn their attention to this town. So we were woken to the

side of artillery bombardment. As I'm talking, there is gun fire in

the distance. We believe they are using anti-aircraft guns and

setting up mortar positions. It is a town of about 40,000 people.

Although militia men belonging to opposition groups are here, this

has not ban military situation and now it has been civilian and from

what we can can tell, the bombardment is entirely random and

not targeting specific individuals. If you're launching -- laudgeing

artillery against a town it is impossible to be discriminate about

who you're targeting. Again another explosion in the distance. This

seems to be part of a wired offensive that is taking place.

Until now the north has been relatively quiet. Although there

has been pockets resistance. Now they seem to be turning their

attention to the smaller toubs -- towns. We heard on Sunday there

were a number of villages and towns that have come back under the

control of the Government forces. We thinks this is part of a wider

movement to consolidate control over these areas. Thank you. A

Russian state-owned television channel has reported that an

assassination plot against Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister

has been foiled. Channel One said that the suspects were detained in

the Ukrainian port of Odessa. But neither the Russian nor the

Ukrainian security services would comment on the report. Here's our

Moscow Correspondent Daniel Sandford. The Ukrainian security

services have spoken to the BBC and said, yes, they did arrest some

people in January after an apartment explosion. When we asked

them was that linked to a plot to asas Nate -- assassinate, the

spokes woman would not comment. So it goes back to the Channel One

report, which was a detailed report that even interviewed one of the

suspects, in which he admits to trying to kill Vladimir Putin. But

at this stage the Ukrainian Security Services do not confirm

the men are being held linked to a plot to assassinate Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin facing a lot of political difficulty generally in

his country, but this particular plot I think linked to Chechen

rebels? Yes. What the men say in their interviews is that they are

linked to one of the big Chechen warlords that is still fighting

against Russia rule. He was the man who claimed to be behind an attack

on an airport last year. The men have Chechen names, but we are in a

difficult names where Russian television are saying one thing and

the Ukrainian services are saying something different. Thank you. The

Sri Lankan Government has organised rallies all over the country in

protest against a planned UN Human Rights Council resolution targeting

the country. The US backed resolution would call for or an

investigation into alleged abuses during the final months of the

military's crushing of the Tamil Tigers in 2009. Last year, a UN-

appointed panel said there were credible allegations both the Sri

Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers were responsible for war crimes.

Our correspondent Charles Haviland is in Colombo. This pro-Government

demonstration is one of 150 that the Government says are taking

place today. Against US plans to bring a motion critical of Sri

Lanka's human rights performance to the UN council. The Americans and

other countries say Sri Lanka must account for tens of thousands of

civilians killed during the war, which a UN panel said were mainly

the responsibility of the Government. Sri Lanka says it was

not responsible for most of the deaths and the security forces

protected Tamil people from worse abuses. Some of this is stage

managed. We have seen bus used by the Government to ferry people in

for this caigs. -- demonstration, but we have seen people coming out

into the street, bringing their Sri Lankan national flags and

supporting the Government. The Australian Prime Minister has seen

off a challenge for her job from her long-term rival, Kevin Rudd. In

a secret ballot, she received nearly 70% of the vote. The ballot

has taken place and Julia Gillard has won. It was an emphatic win, a

margin of more than two to one. But Julie tkpil ard used her speech to

call for party unity. -- Gillard. It has been ugly. I understand that.

I also understand that as a result Australians have had a gutful of

seeing us focus on ourselves. I understand the frustration in

seeing us do that. Today, I want to say to Australians one and all,

this issue, the leadership question, is now determined. She had this

message of praise for the man she had defeated, Kevin Rudd. I want to

say to Kevin Rudd for days that lie beyond, as a nation, as a Labor

Party, we must honour his many achievements as Prime Minister.

his moment of difeet, Kevin Rudd lost none of his confidence. --

defeat. I congratulate Julia on her strong win today. The caucus has

spoken and I accept their verdict without qualification. To each and

every one of my supporters who together delird nearly one third of

the -- delivered near Ily one third of Voes I thank them. This has been

a big battle, not over ideas, but between two different personality

and leadership stiels. Julia tkpil ard said she was confident of

winning the general election next year. The Prime Minister said that

will be fought over health care and the economy and not over internal

party quigss -- divisions. The opposition said the Prime

Minister's victory was no more Nan a stay of execution and Julia

Gillard promises today will be a turning point for her and her party.

It's been ten years since the civil war in Sierra Leone was declared

over. Tens of thousands were killed in the decade-long conflict that

was ended by the United Nations in 2002. Since then, most of those

responsible for the civil war's many atrocities have been tried by

the UN and all sanctions against the country have been lifted. In

the first of a series of reports, the BBC's Mark Doyle examines the

slow progress Sierra Leone is making to recover from the wounds

of war. This is the real peace dividend at work. Where ever you go,

over a decade since the end of the war, you see villages like this,

working for themselves. This is a mud pit from which they're

extracting mud, that will be mixed with straw and it will become

building blocks. Of course, in the last ten years, since the end of

the war, there have been some big investment companies coming n

mining companies and Chinese investors. But in the end it comes

down to ordinary people realises -- realising there is a possibility of

rebuilding their lives. They're making these mud blocks, which look

basic, but if you build them into a house and surround them with

concrete, they do last several years. This is the peace dividend

and just over the road we have come across a building which is going up.

That is going to be an entertainment hall on a small scale.

This is the building which is going up. A very modest, it will be a

cinema and television hall. How are you? This is your place? Yes.

You're going to build? The roof and you're going to show television

films or football matches or what will you show? Ordinary television.

It has not got satellite. But you will show films and people will pay

small money. Can we go in? Yes. You're John? Yes. You are the

builder. Show me what you have been doing. You're doing the roof? That

is fine. It's very simple, but this means that the man who owns the

place and John the build rer making some money and they will be able to

show films, football matches if they can get the satellite in,

people are mad for Premiership football here. Spending a few cents

letting people in and making a living. American doctors say one

day it could be possible to create an unlimited supply of human eggs.

They have managed to find stem cells which produce new eggs in the