wemeg eta—bblmma in north america and around the globe. i'm lebo diseko. our top stories: la la land has picked up its first gong at the oscars ceremony in los angeles, in production design. mahershala ali wins best supporting actor and best supporting actress goes to viola davis. i'm peter bowes live in los angeles. we arejust seeing we are just seeing the salesman, given the award for best foreign—language film. but the director has foreign—language film. but the d i rector has boycotted foreign—language film. but the director has boycotted the ceremonies in relation to donald trump's immigration policies. in other news: claims that british child migrants to australia were physically and sexually abused are to be examined in a public inquiry. the greater the evil, the greater the conspiracy to keep it secret and undercover.

and britain's gold medallist sir mo farah insists he's a clean athlete after new allegations involving his coach alberto salazar. hello. good to have you with us. politics and a passion for story telling has dominated this years oscars. gathering at the dolby theatre in los angeles, film stars and film makers have called for unity, as well as celebrating the industry's collection of films — from gritty dramas and musicals to documentaries and animations. the favourite for the big award, best picture, is the musical la la land, while denzel washington is a leading contenderfor best actor. we go live to peter bowes. lots of awards so far. la la land hasjust one be best cinematography award.

but the big winner of the night is diversity, isn't it? certainly diversity. you look at the oscars over the last few years, that has been the big debate here in los angeles. certainly last year and the before, the total domination by the acting categories by white actors. we did not have that this year. we had a number of actors of colour nominated in those key categories, and two winners, so far, mahershala ali, and viola davis, winning for their roles in fences and moonlight. already numerous mentions throughout the show about politics and the current state of the nation, the current state of the nation, the current state of the united states, and a certain number ofjibes against president donald trump. i am joined by peter da bruges, deep chief film critic from variety. and

the head of lakh less. there has been a political tone, gentler than expected. —— from blacklist. you mentioned that a lot of political comments have been made by non— americans. my senses who has made directly political comments, they have all been on americans. i don't know what to make about, but it is notable. the rennie director of the salesman has won in the best foreign language film category. —— the iranian director. he has not come, and we knew this beforehand, he was protesting the travel ban that donald trump tried to bring in. somebody accepted the award on the behalf of this director. and those sent us were explained. as you're watching that, had you think that went down? i figure was a perfect

moment, if you will. this was a second win for the director, after separation. i think it was a statement of solidarity with the people of this country and of the re st of people of this country and of the rest of the world and with refugees everywhere. i'm actually wearing a pen for the everywhere. i'm actually wearing a pen forthe iranian, designed baseri an artist. —— pin. but at a time where there is a man who has made such great art, and there are questions about him being a to come, his comments were quite appropriate. peter, speaking of that film, we can also talk about the white helmets.

this is something that is made about the large group of people who make the large group of people who make the effort to do all these rescue services in that country. —— white helmets. this category is where the academy casts it political vote. they're not necessarily the strongest documentaries, but about the most important issues. a win for that film is a real vote of interest in the conflict in syria, it is in that matters to hollywood, right now. it is also interesting, if you also look at the shorts category, apart from the foreign—language category, there is a real problem in the oscars in general. i am wearing my own button. this is for an actress who was nominated for the

best actress prize in a french—speaking film. the representation film is not only to colour, but also to american cinema. and of course, british and american actors, because they can to be speaking english, they recognise. but there is also the question of whether we recognise international contributions. the most moving part of the oscars so far to me was a montage about the universal language of cinema. and just people around the world. it was such a beautiful idea by the producers to ensure it —— includes that. -- includes that. what you think about the oscars, the academy, and the oscar voters, and how they see their role in providing a commentary on what is going on. because it happens quite frequently.” on what is going on. because it happens quite frequently. i think celebrity set a megaphone with which to share their views, but there is a pushback from average american citizens to what they say, and it is

oftentimes the betterment of the quiet, because they do what the is. just by virtue of the fact that they are so just by virtue of the fact that they are so internationally engaged and travels, they have a broader view that a lot of average citizens. travels, they have a broader view that a lot of average citizenslj that a lot of average citizens.” made comments earlier this evening that it made comments earlier this evening thatitis made comments earlier this evening that it is important to remember the actors using a new television screens, actors using a new television screens, they often come from places ofan —— screens, they often come from places of an —— other than placentals. they we re of an —— other than placentals. they were certainly from other places before they moved here. —— other than los angeles. we have about another one hour of the oscars. of course, we are still waiting for the categories such as white helmets, best actor, and so on. what are your predictions at this stage.” best actor, and so on. what are your

predictions at this stage. i think la la land had a lot of expectations coming into the night of it is hard to argue with the conference of the winners that of it happen. that said, they certainly were the front runner coming the night. but i think a door may have been opened for hidden figures or moonlight or even hacksaw ridge in best picture. there bitterly of a backlash is la la if = recent is to remember eeen if important to remember that even if we have favourites, we have personalfavourites, the ninth on up for best picture, these are all great works of art. any one of them is worthy of an % i l535 the , ,, the idea la land, the front runner, the idea that an original musical, notjust an adaptation of a broadway musical, it is amazing that it has gone so far to connect with audience. that isa far to connect with audience. that is a huge feet. i wonder if they

movie like dream girls, which was not even nominated in its year, if that came out last year, if that would have been nominated.” that came out last year, if that would have been nominated. i wonder if la la land, is that came out a different time, if that would not have got so much love.” different time, if that would not have got so much love. i think you're right. thank you very much, gentlemen. not long until the end of the oscars. we will be getting azaz for the bigger categories, soon. thank you forjoining us, peter. cannot wait to get back to you. of course, you can stay up—to—date with all the updates on our website by going to bbc.com/news. we have all the letters on the winners, they are. nominees, politics, analysis, and of course a history of the awards. here in britain, two—and—a—half years after it was set up by the government, the independent inquiry

into child sexual abuse begins its first public hearings. its scope is vast, covering 13 different subject areas. one of the first claims to be investigated is the mistreatment of thousands of british children sent abroad after the second world war. the bbc has been told the inquiry will hear new evidence about abuse that took place and claims that it was covered up. here's our home affairs correspondent tom symonds. newsreel: the liner asturias arrives at fremantle from great britain with 931 new migrants for this country. i've lived for 60—odd years with this hate. they sent us to a place that was a living hell. we did nothing wrong. all we did was do as we were told, and suffered immensely for it. they've been called "britain's lost children." clifford walsh was nine when he arrived here at fremantle, near perth, one of thousands in care orfrom poorfamilies, promised a better life in the sunshine. he ended up at bindoon, run by the catholic christian brothers, where barefoot children

built their own accommodation and were beaten and sexually abused. we were 60 miles from perth. we had no parents. the scat-set thgebgseg to britain, to tilbury docks, from where he left 58 years ago. he's a successful public figure in australia, who grew up at the fairbridge farm school, and interviewed its former children, who've only relatively recently disclosed sexual abuse. i've put the figure at over 60% of the kids that went to fairbridge were sexually abused. 60%? 60%. and i think if you look at the conditions that prevail in the other child migrant

institutions, i'd be staggered if the figure isn't equally high, or even higher, in some of the catholic boys' homes in western australia. files in the national archives show that in 1956, british inspectors visited all of the homes. there were no mentions of sexual abuse, but there were serious concerns about standards of childcare. officials drew up this blacklist of institutions that should receive no more children. but the files show that the charities and religious organisations running the schemes successfully put pressure on the government to keep them going until the 1970s. fairbridge has become part of the prince's trust, which says the public inquiry will have access to all the charity's archives. should this inquiry bother with what's becoming history? it will examine new claims of a cover—up, and that paedophiles selected migrants for emigration. many of the lost children are still alive and demanding answers. the greater the evil,

the stronger the conspiracy to keep it a secret and keep it covered up. so, if this inquiry is capable of opening some of that truth, then that's a good thing. tom symonds, bbc news. rainstorms and landslides in chile have contaminated a major river, forcing the authorities to cut off drinking water to four million people in the capital, santiago. the rain started on saturday and resulted in mudslides and rubble pouring into the maipo river which supplies most homes in the city.