12/09/2016 World News Today

I'm Karin Giannone, welcome to BBC World News Today.

Just two hours ago, a cease-fire has come into force in Syria.

Syria's President Assad says he has unfinished business

with what he calls "the terrorists" We report from inside

It's been a long, hot and dangerous summer

in Aleppo, and you can see it

in the fabric of the city, the damage that's been done.

The ceasefire's meant to stop all that.

A bout of pneumonia, and a stumble caught on camera.

Is Hillary Clinton's health now a major factor

Two months after the former British Prime Minister

left Downing Street, he's stepping down from Parliament.

And Britain's Will Bayley upsets the Brazilians by beating the host

nation to win gold in table tennis at the Paralympics in Rio.

A seven day ceasefire in Syria has come into effect,

with all sides expressing doubts about how long it can be observed.

The truce was brokered by the United States and Russia

to allow the two superpowers to carry out co-ordinated air

With a complicated split across the country between the government

forces and wide range of opposition groups,

there are reservations about how the truce will hold.

In Aleppo, the government has besieged the Eastern rebel-side

From the Western side of the city, our Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen

The further you drive north in Syria, the more intense the war

becomes. This road is a regime's fragile link between Damascus and

Aleppo. Rebels cut it this summer where it reaches Aleppo. They were

only driven back by Syrian troops at the weekend. Shelling was still

going on as we drove in. The government artillery is hitting

rebel positions. It's been a long, hot and dangerous summer. In Aleppo.

You can see it in the fabric of the city, the damage that's been done.

The ceasefire is meant to stop all of that. Since the fighting started

here in 2012, the west side of the city has been in government hands.

Armed opposition groups controlled the east. Four years of fighting

have devastated Aleppo. This gives an idea of the firepower of the

Syrian army and of its Russian backers who have been making gains

around Aleppo. One of the big questions about the ceasefire is

whether they are prepared to give their enemies a chance to rest and

regroup. On the rebel side there are also doubts, groups backed by the

Americans have been told they have two separate for more radical

militias, they regard them as allies. -- separate from. Another

more radical group backed by Saudi Arabia has already rejected the

ceasefire agreement. TRANSLATION: The deal was between US

and Russia to resolve the issue in Syria does not achieve in our view

is achieve the minimum goals. Their only sacrifices, not games. In

Damascus, president celebrated the Festival of Ede with praying. It was

in rebel hands by Billy Mack for five years until the surrender in

August, after an unrelenting siege. President Assad's government has

backed the ceasefire but says he has unfinished military business.

TRANSLATION: Seasoned aggro -- we want is to restore security, retake

ground, and restore infrastructure and restore what was destroyed. We

came here to delay to replace fake freedom at the beginning of the

crisis with real freedom. People are used to war here, and the holiday is

being celebrated even though there was a steady thunder of artillery

fire throughout the day. The ceasefire agreement is complicated,

potentially fragile, and all sides doubts whether it can work. But it's

all the diplomats have, and the very least it might be a respite for the

people who most. -- who need it most.

Edgard Jallad is the editor of BBC Arabic and he joins us now.

First of all, do we know how it's going? It is too soon to assess the

ceasefire, even with the first reports saying that the situation is

quieter than before but at the same time you can see snaps talking about

violations, on social media can and we expect to see that all the time,

especially that not all groups are all OK with the ceasefire, and they

accept that as we have seen in Jeremy's package. This ceasefire is

the most serious agreement to have happened so far this year in Syria

will stop it has been brokered by the two superpowers, and they have

their own plans and reasons why it should happen now. This was imposed

on all parties, and if we look at how it was communicated to them,

they were not part of it, they don't know much about it, and as

journalists we need to know more about this agreement. It is divided

into five chapters with lots of technical details from the military

aspects and other aspects that we don't know yet. The only thing that

was communicated to the parties was what is required from them on the

ground. You don't have to do this and that, and that's it. That's why

it still ambiguous a little bit for us, but we can see that the power

behind it, but on the ground is not the end of the war, we all know

that. If the political process and we are waiting for that. In terms of

reasons they be optimistic, the fact that this has been brokered by the

US and Russia, a very good point in its favour. But there are also

reasons or pessimism, some scepticism, about whether this will

work? Definitely comedy situation on the ground is very obligated. Now,

the Americans and Russians are going to regroup in a week time and attack

in a week. They will also attack other affiliated groups. They don't

know where they are. They tried to put some maps to define their areas,

but they might infiltrate some other areas. We will see a lot of

obligations on the ground and accusations, mutual accusations.

They have both interests to show that the other parties not

respecting the truce, but at the same time, there is a ceiling, and

it is clear to everyone that you can't go beyond this point till

further notice. When this is happening, we don't know. Thank you

very much. Well, another front has seen Turkish groups and others,

fighting on the border. The town has been recently freed.

For three years this town, Jarablus, was under the control

State, but three weeks ago, rebel soldiers from the free Syrian army

backed by Turkish troops came in here and we took the town and

in a lightening offensive, eating what seems to be

You can see there on the wall some of the vestiges of IS control,

their logos on their flags, and if you come over here you get

a sense of just how brutal the group was

Because on this main roundabout, in front of their

banner, here, are these three metal stands, and this is where Islamic

State used to execute those who defied it.

Those who were accused of crimes,

maybe who smoked or who cut their beard too short,

This is where punishment was meted out, and in the

space of a very short time, IS has been driven out of the town, but

also Kurdish fighters have been stopped from taking it, and that is

very important for Turkey because it sees Kurdish fighters as a threat,

so it has now created in a sense a kind of defacto safe zone

here in Jarablus, without IS and without Kurdish fighters,

and Turkey now feels emboldened by this

operation, to push on into other strongholds, as it moves further

south to, in its words, cleanse Syria from Islamic State.

The Turkish president says that is the duty of

Turkey, to free Syria from the military.

Donald Trump says health is now an issue in the race

for the White House, after it emerged that

Hillary Clinton is being treated for pneumonia.

Mrs Clinton has pulled out of a campaign trip to California

after appearing to collapse, as she left a 9/11

Mr Trump, her Republican rival who's catching up in the polls,

says he's going to release his own medical report.

From Washington, here's our North America Editor Jon Sopel:

There is only one subject of conversation in the US today,

Hillary Clinton and her health after apparently collapsing yesterday in

New York. I was serious condition is, what impact it will have on the

race, why not be more open about the diagnosis.

has received one get well soon card at least.

I hope she gets well soon, like you I see what I

Cleveland, though she did her best to make a joke of it. Every time I

think about Donald Trump I get a coughing fit. And yesterday after

her collapse she also tried to make light of it all. I am great. It is a

beautiful day in New York. It will be hours before her team would admit

she had pneumonia, even though the diagnosis had come days earlier. On

social media, even friends have been critical. This is David Axelrod, the

campaign manager for Barack Obama in 2008.

pneumonia, what is the cure for an unhealthy penchant for privacy

that repeatedly creates unnecessary problems? And a new twist in the

race for the White House, health is now a major issue. It may sound

trivial to speak of a lack of openness with which the illness was

communicated, it feeds into a narrative, whether it be about

her e-mail server, money raised by the Clinton

her e-mail server, money raised by the Clinton foundation...

that there is a lack of transparency and Hillary Clinton cannot afford to

give the voters new reasons to doubt her. Jon Sobel, BBC News,

Ken Vogel is a veteran follower of US politics for the website

Politico and joins me from its Washington offices.

Ken, welcome to you again. It's dominating the airwaves as you know

very well. How significant do you think this issue is of health for

the campaign overall? Well, unless the Clinton campaign voluntarily

releases some bombshell about Hillary Clinton's health which,

given the recent track record seems unlikely, because they have only

grudgingly released information and even then only when there has been

video evidence or something sort of forcing bandanna soaked barring

that, barring a major disclosure, I don't think it is particularly

significant, these are both senior citizens running for the highest

office in the land, and the voters are pretty well polarised, they are

well locked in, the folks who aren't, the very narrow slice of

swing voters in the middle, I don't see health as being a major issue in

their sort of deciding factors. But if the drum campaign wants to a

issue of it, what's to stop them? Yes, it was interesting. Trump and

his surrogates have been really hammering Hillary Clinton on

health-related issues, raising questions in kind of a murky way,

with a lot of innuendo. Now that they actually have some evidence

that things are potentially more serious, they have Kyle Dov dialled

it back, and taken this approach as you saw from Donald Trump in the

piece about wishing her well, not really commenting, probably the

smart political approach, because now you have the attention of the

nation was like political news media on Hillary, getting more information

on her health. There will keep it a story without Trump saying anything.

You mentioned more information, isn't that also what's behind this

question at the lack of information, or perceived lack from the Clinton

campaign can even coming from someone like Donald Trump who hasn't

said a great deal about his own affairs? Yes, that's right. It is

more than a perceived lack of information, this is very much

because an approach to everything. That is, a disclosure when it is

only when there is such a drumbeat of criticism as scrutiny towards

whatever the subject matter is. Donald Trump you're right, he has

not been particularly revelatory in a voluntary way, but he is much more

open in his conversations with the press. He deserves a lot more press

committees and front the voters a lot more than Hillary Clinton, whose

team has kept her secluded, so that all plays into this really mounting

scrutiny of Hillary Clinton and her health right now. Is there any way

this could potentially endeared the public to bury Clinton, this chink

of her armour. She is a mere human being with those moments of

weakness, and perhaps a little bit of sympathy might come out for her?

Yes, certainly that's possible. That is, if this is something to turn out

to be just pneumonia and she is able to overcome it and a payback on the

campaign trail with a lot of vim and vigour, she has a history of having

a tonne of stamina. I've travelled with her campaign before, I got sick

because of the schedule was so brutal and so gruelling, and she

didn't get sick, if she returns to form... Granted I was eight years --

that was eight years ago. But if you return the form, as she may be

vulnerable to a tough schedule, there might be these lingering

questions, there could be potentially some damage for Donald

Trump to cause there. Ken, thank you very much stop the

while inflicting a civil war on their struggling country.

So alleges a report commissioned by none other, than Hollywood actor

Clooney is a long time campaigner for human rights in south Sudan, and

investigative unit- "The Sentry"- spent two years

Civil war has torn the world's youngest country apart.

For nearly three years, a fall-out between

two of South Sudan's most powerful men,

former vice president Riek Machar and the president Salva Kiir,

and terrible atrocities committed by both sides.

2.5 million people have been forced from their homes.

Now an investigative unit, backed by George Clooney,

The simple fact is they're stealing the money to

The simple fact is they're stealing the money to fund their militias,

The evidence is thorough and it is detailed,

The report alleges dodgy business deals and nepotism.

President Salva Kiir's wife and at least seven of his children

are linked to a whole range of businesses.

It is said his 12-year-old son had a 25% share in a holding company,

and it claims his brother-in-law's company supplied fuel

to the military while he was a senior officer.

It appears that that Riek Machar has been has been involved in

He had been engaged in negotiations to sell the country's oil production

We also found evidence that a nephew of his was involved in a violent

and hostile takeover of a security company operating in South Sudan

in which several members of the security company were held

The report says that top politicians and generals and South Sudan,

despite their low salaries, have luxury villas in Uganda,

And here in Nairobi, both Salva Kiir and Riek Machar have homes

George Clooney and John Pendergrast, a human rights activist,

have taken a practical interest in Sudan

Their report says The Sentry endeavoured to contact

"In most cases, they did not respond."

This approach would there utilise precision guided financial policy

tools normally reserved for countering terrorism for fighting

organised crime, for halting the proliferation of nuclear

weapons, but this time we want to use these

tools, these policy tools in the service of human rights

and peace and good governance in south Sudan.

A larger peacekeeping force is due to help bring a peace deal back

on track, but there is little confidence the crisis affecting

so many millions of people will be resolved any time soon.

A look at some of the day's other news.

Facebook has failed to stop legal action by a 14-year-old girl

in Northern Ireland, who is suing it because a naked

photograph of her was posted on the social media site.

The girl is seeking damages in what is believed to be

The authorities in Florida are investigating a possible arson

attack on the mosque attended by Omar Mateen, the gunman

accused of the Orlando nightclub shooting in June.

The local Sheriff's Office said surveillance video showed someone

approaching the Islamic Centre of Fort Pierce moments

before a fire broke out in the early hours of Monday.

Austria's Interior Minister says a planned re-run of the presidential

election will now take place in December.

It's been postponed from next month after some postal voters complained

that the glue on their forms was not working properly, making

The former British Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned his seat

Mr Cameron left Downing Street in July after losing the referendum

on Britain's membership of the European Union.

He says he fully supports the new Prime Minister Theresa May

and doesn't want to be a distraction from the work of her government.

Our political editor Laura Kuenssberg has more.

Not just out of Number Ten but out of politics too.

David Cameron is walking away from Westminster.

Friends say he doesn't want to be a back-seat driver and make life

With modern politics, with the circumstances

of my resignation, it isn't really possible to be a proper backbench MP

I think everything you do will become a big distraction

and a big diversion from what the government needs

No Tory leader had ever posed with Huskies before.

But no Tory leader had put such a premium on changing

And it took them back to power, albeit through the early

..before winning outright just last year.

I think he has provided outstanding leadership for this country.

I think he often made the job look very easy when actually

And I think he leaves behind a very strong legacy

chapter in history will be promising and then losing his referendum

The British people have spoken and the answer is, we are out.

Transforming the UK's place in the world, turning

Now he has done what he said he would not do and walked

away, leaving a huge mess to be cleared up.

So I do not think today is the day for tributes to his record.

I think he will be remembered as a bad Prime Minister.

Friends deny he flounced out because he does not

agree with the new boss but there is a danger

they admit that anything he said

could drive a wedge and David Cameron himself accepts that they

Obviously I will have my own views about different issues,

And that is the point, as a former Prime Minister it is

difficult to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous diversion

and distraction from what the government is doing.

He was sometimes accused of believing his own hype.

Nothing is really impossible if you put

As I once said, I was the future once.

Such recent history fields already so much in the past.

David Cameron is not unusual among politicians

It's been another successful day for Britain's paralympians in Rio.

Will Bayley overcame disappointment in 2012 and a hostile crowd rooting

for his Brazilian opponent to win gold in the table tennis.

While Aled Davis set a record in his shot put category.

Our Sports correspondent, Andy Swiss reports.

if you've ever wondered what being Paralympic champion means, well here

is the answer. Will Bayley was born with a conviction that restricts his

movement in his limbs, but when he was having his grandmother bought

him a tennis table, and this is where it has led him. He was up

against the Brazilian, but after silver in London, it was gold. And

what a celebration! He clambers onto a table, earning him a yellow card,

but didn't seem to mind. I had for the umpire, followed by something

even more exuberant. A tearful winner later said he achieved the

impossible. Meanwhile, a sweltering day proved the sweetest for Aled

Davies, one of the stars of London 2012, with a new Paralympic record

in the shot put. Another goal is to add to Britain's ever expanding

collection. On Sunday, they won eight, their best day so far,

finished off by the flashing blade of Richard Whitehead, charging the

200 metres. Behind him, former Army captain Dave Henson, just five years

after losing his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan they barely

believable bronze. Another obvious that it was like champions told me

in this British team, success is inspiring success. I remember on

Friday night I came back from my event and there is a slow motion of

Johnny Peacock coming the line and stuff, and he's running and I saw

Richard Whitehead and a few others their Gunnarsson is doing it as

well, it just leads to more and more and more, and it used like you just

want to be part of the club. There was one rare disappointment, though,

does a day are becoming a dad, despite finished fifth in his race.

This woman however chased a next ordering feet, a medal at every

distance from the 100 metres to the marathon, and so far she is on track

for history. While it had been an airgun adds John Kerry, at US that

just eight, calls to all size to hold the ceasefire. Latest reports

say the worst public areas of -- are quiet. There are early reports of

fighting here and there, but it is far too early to draw any definitive

conclusions, and I shall not do so. Syrian observatories, the Syrian

observatories for human rights said that the major conflict zones in

Syria were calm after the ceasefire took effect at 7pm on Monday. They

quote is calm is prevailing. The director said, giving an early

assessment, I repeat, early assessment. That is a statement from

John Kerry 's Department after a few hours of their ceasefire truths. --

Well that's all truce from the programme.

But, for now, from me, Karin, and the rest of the team, goodbye.

hello there. These unseasonably high temperatures for this time of year

are not going to be bright across the