this is bbc news. i'm reged ahmad. our top stories: at least two more people have been shot dead clashes on the venezuelan border and more than 20 were wounded in venezuela as the opposition tries to move aid as opponents of president maduro tried to get humanitarian into the country. aid into the country. troops open fire on protesters some aid lorries were set on fire. the president has broken off diplomatic relations with colombia and at least two are dead. for helping his opponents. if the opposition manage to push all this through the border, through president maduro's defences, a chicago court has set a $1 million it will be a real challenge bail bond for r&b singer r kelly to his authority. who's been charged with ten counts votes are being counted in nigeria of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. the judge asked him to surrender his after millions of people cast their ballots in the passport and not to have any contact with anyone under biggest election in african history. the age of eighteen. a court in chicago sets votes are being counted a million—dollar bail bond in nigeria after presidential for the singer, r kelly, and parliamentary elections. who's been charged with ten counts in some areas, the authorities extended polling past of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. the official closing time. hitting the right note — india's first and only professional orchestra makes the vote is the biggest its uk debut this week. in african history. first—time buyers now make up the majority of home purchases

bought with a mortgage in the uk, according to new figures. the last time that happened was 1995. according to halifax, pendle in lancashire and copeland in cumbria are the most affordable areas for first time buyers. here's colin campbell. the number of first—time buyers has nearly doubled over the past decade, but with surging property prices, it remains an uphill struggle for those trying to get on the property ladder. according to the halifax, the average price paid for a typical first home hasjumped by 39%, from £153,000 in 2008 to more than £212,000 in 2018. first—time buyers are putting down an average deposit of more than £32,000, rising to more than £110,000 in london. the figures show a london first—time buyer's deposit could almost buy a home outright in the north—east of england or northern ireland. but it is in wales where first—time buyers are paying the lowest average

deposit ofjust over £16,000. while there's been an increase in first—time buyers year on year across the uk, in scotland and wales, numbers have fallen. terraced houses closely followed by semidetached properties continue to be the first—time buyers‘ home of choice. despite a shortage of homes and challenges of raising a deposit, the halifax say the figures show healthy movement in the first—time buyer property market. colin campbell, bbc news. now on bbc news, with the 0scars ceremony on sunday night, talking movies takes a look at the films and stars with a chance of taking home an award. hello from hollywood. i'm tom brook. welcome to this special edition of talking movies previewing the 91st annual academy awards.

the 91st annual academy awards is about to get under way, the road to the oscars has been a bit bumpy. there has been controversy over a proposed new most popular film category, subsequently abandoned. then there were difficulties securing a host. this year, the ceremony is now proceeding without a host. then most recently, there was a plan to hand out for awards during commercial breaks, which met with howls of protest. and the academy backed down. anyway, that is water under the bridge and now it's on with the show. this year, there are great expectations surrounding roma, the mexican film directed by alfonso. many expect this highly acclaimed picture to win trophies

because of its artistic merits, but it may also triumph because of the big promotional campaign mounted by its backer. roma has been the subject of a massive campaign by netflix to win 0scars, the chief aim to being the best picture victory to his largely on a powerful portrait of his family's housemaid and his childhood home in mexico city and the early 1970s. he is taking the big marketing push his stride. now, netflix like any other companies behind any of the films, they do a lot of work doing promotion and marketing, and i'm very pleased about it. i'm very pleased, because roma is a very unlikely thing to have of a marketing campaign. an unlikely candidate for best picture prize because the film is no glossy hollywood production, it's in black and white and spanish

and features no major stars. nevertheless, its current ten nominations to co—at british picture, the favourite. netflix has been doing all it can to win the hearts and minds of academy members. it has sent out to awards voters special cushions. and a coffee table book. for best picture, they really want roma to win an oscar, it would be such a jewel in their crown to be able to say they have a jewel in their crown to be able to say they can win best picture showing they are on the same level as traditional studios like universal and warner bros, they can produce the same type of films and they think it'll attract and retain writers and subscribers. it's been estimated netflix has spent more than $25 million on its 0scar campaign. it knows winning would definitely generate a return. if you can show that you might win an oscar and will put a lot

into helping you get that, i think it helps them, you know, retain and attract like the very top talent in the film industry, and that is important, especially as you have more and more competition. and more competition is coming. disney will be launching a big media streaming platform this year, as well as other media entities, with that netflix is taking on the role occupied by harvey weinstein several years ago, when he was a major force in winning 0scars. i think harvey's a fair comparison because netflix bought the publicity found that harvey weinstein often used to promote his films for a consideration and now that works exclusively for netflix. so, it's a fair comparison, although they haven't won the awards yet, harvey weinstein at the weinstein company did win lots of 0scars and you can say he had a special touch in winning those awards and netflix hasn't accomplished

it yet, but they're certainly trying to. so, what will happen on the big night? well, there is a good chance that roma picking the best foreign language film trophy, and if it winds that the best picture award, that will of cpourse delight netflix executives and make a big hollywood studios shudder over the encroaching competition. as you heard, roma with its ten nominations co—leads the oscars field with a dark british comedy period, starring 0livia. this much like picture has been a favourite from the time of its lunch at the venice film festival last year. emma jones reports. the queen is an extraordinary person. they were all staring, weren't they? i can't tell if i can't see and i had to wear it back. and ugly.

aptly, the favourite is the darling of this year were in season, it's the recipient at ten 0scar nominations. seven bathtubs including best actress and supporting actress plus a golden globe for 0livia coleman. all of this breakdown that took nine years to get made, as initially financers wearing each share three female leads would appeal. yet, that was a selling point for the director, who saw many layers beneath an overtly comedic romp and he liked the idea a strong female presence. i was very impressed to realise there was a real story for the three women that at some point in time, had such power, and the fact that it was an intimate story about them, and at the same time, their story and their relationship could actually affect the fate of the whole country and the fate of a war felt like a very rich subject to explore. at the centre of the story of a love

and power triangle between three women is queen anne, and much of the appeal rests in 0livia coleman's performance drenched in a comedy. did you look at me? did you? look at me. look at me! how dare you! close your eyes. she goes through the whole gamut of emotions, and a tragic character. i mean, the loss of 17 children, none of whom survived, to carry that with you every moment and day, you can see how she's all over the shop. i thought we could roast them and eaat them. it hasn't made the box office like braveheart or gladiator, but as a historical film, it certainly has awards appeal, but a part of the winning formula is perhaps it does not feel historical. constants from the film are on display at kensington palace where queen anne actually lead, but however the success of the film might be more down to the emphasis

on contemporary and you can see that really clearly in the costumes, including an emma stone's character as maidservant which is made out of denim, which is a fabric that wasn't around in the 18 century. often the dancing is the favourite one stoplight this historian worked as a consultant on the film. it was going to be something very different kind of drama you never encounter as a historian, very innovative script and modern sounding and i think we have been struggling for terms to catch exactly what kind of film it is. some have spoke about being a period romp or drama black history comedy, it's like we are reaching for new words to capture what exactly kind of film that is, and i think it's really exciting, i think we should feel braver about the history stories we can tell on screen and what we can do with history and films. perhaps that found the film could only succeed in this particular area, not only did the arrival come during times of diversity and sexuality

and gender was likely to be embraced by contemporary cinema goers, but the global political climate lends itself to discussion of who rules nations and the consequences. this is madness. sometimes a lady likes to have fun. it's about the capriciousness of people in power, how capricious a world leader could or might be. how like a toddler they might be at times. how ego might get in the way of what is good for a country as a whole. i'm mentioning no names. over the years, 0scar nominees with multiple nominations have come away empty handed in the major categories, and the favourite is not favourite for best picture or director, but it sparkles then other conventional costume dramas and perhaps has changed the genre for good. my dear friend, how good to see you return from hell. i'm sure you shall pass

through it one day. there's a big guessing game going on in hollywood right now, a guessing game as to who will walk away with the top 0scar prizes. in one category at least, that of best actress, there does seem to be some agreement as to who will win and many think it'll be a good night for glenn close. glenn close is up for an oscar, her career goes back a long way. her first film world was in 1982 playing nurse in the world according to god, ajohn irving best—selling novel. 0ther high—profile roles, but none matched her role in fatal attraction, a defining movie at the 1980s. it only takes a phone call! then there were leading roles like dangerous liaison directed by stephen, she takes chances in actress

and her portrayal of a crossdressing character in 2011 brought her praise and a leading actress nomination. in all, close has secured seven nominations, but never won. in her latest nomination in the film the wife, she plays a wife who sacrifices her professional ambitions, in order to support her husband at the celebrated author. tell me this isn't some great big fatjoke. it's all real, darling! breathe! we had an amazing director and he knew where to put the camera, and he knew how to light our faces for close—ups. without him, i don't think my performance would have the impact that it has. he just knew how to shoot us. i would like to convey to you tre warm congratulations at the swedish academy. you have reinvented the nature of storytelling. you have an occupation? i do.

what is that? i am a kingdom maker. what does getting 0scar and recognition mean to you? at this point in my career, it would, yes. in what way? think about it — i've been in the business for 44 years. and to still be out there, you know, doing work that people pay attention to, that's a big deal for me. you know, you want to stay relevant. and you certainly don't want to bore people, let alone yourself. i think you're very relevant. thanks for the interview. next time, don't refer to me as your sun, the half—baked writer. you don't need my approval to write. everyone needs approval. sees favourite to win the best actress trophy and academy members may be choosing to reward her both for her performance at the wife

and for her career in general. she is the most nominated actress in academy awards history without a win. what am i supposed to do? i won't be ignored! a few years ago, the membership at the academy was likely a male white and older, and in the wake of the oscar so white campaign has been a big effort to diversify the membership by bringing in more women, people of colour and a younger, more international crowd. these changes had began to make an impact, they are altering the kind of films that get nominated. the world is changing and so are the oscars, eventually. three years after the oscar so white campaign first tried to drag the academy into the 21st century, those efforts are being rewarded. this year's batch of nominees look very different than it did just

three years ago. with me too, with oscars so white, they have had their back against the wall and have really had to make efforts to get people into the academy and get different stories out there. it's a landmark year for many different fronts, roma, the front runner for best picture, is the first spanish language film nominated in that category. the star is the first indigenous leading actress from america to be nominated. black panther‘s first comic book movie to make the best picture list and spike lee, who first attracted 0scar attention with a screenplay nomination in 1993 do the right thing, finally garnered a long overdue best director

for blackkkkla nsman. it's hard to imagine any of these films or artist making the cut ten years ago when superhero movies and movies about people of colour were rarely made. let alone honoured. there are three racially themed movies nominated for best picture, and they vary in quality and content. certainly i think that is what america is, if you look at what is happening now in our country, let alone administration, we are screaming at each other and at this point no one is listening, and i think that films like that show a different opinion, and they really showcase all the different opinions across the country and things need to be said. about race and segregation and prejudice we all hold on all those different things. so it's notjust that smart representation for marginalised groups, it's that there is a variety

of representation and that's a different kind of progress, so consider out of 20 actors nominated for lead and supporting categories, seven were on it for gay or lesbian portrayals. melissa mccarthy and can you ever forgive me?, many of the representations provoke debate among gay people. take the lesbian love triangle in the favourite. my feelings are that i question the film is as, i don't know, gay positive that some people tend to feel and i tend to feel it's very much a movie about, subtly homophobic in its construction, it's very like you know, she has to touch her leg, oh, she has to do this, it's very to me, it's very not, it's not a good representation, but i'm in the minority on that one, a lot of my friends really can read that film and see that it's a very beautiful love story. you are very close to abigail, she's a viper.

and you're jealous. those traditionally shot out of the biggest night in hollywood, this year the process to be a watershed moment but equally important is what happens after the awards are handed out. but not whether she hears her name called from stage, spike lee getting his 0scar moment, or a call for lgbtq equality made from the victorious actor, there's no guarantee that the decision—makers in hollywood will follow the 0scars‘ lead and ensure that these awards offer more than just a token of progress. the oscars tend to be a rather inward looking affair with the focus largely on american film and american film—making talent, but it does reserve one category for non—english language films, and this year's there's a richness to the five nominated pictures. some of the movies nominated for best foreign language film share themes. both countries coming from europe shares themse of romance and use

a changing political and social landscape and history as a backdrop to the drama. never look away, from germany, tells the story of a look at an artist's life during the third reich and subsequently the cold war. he tries to find his voice as an artistic first in east germany while fostering a relationship with a woman whose disapproving father attempts to sabotage their romance. the director garnered the best foreign language film award in 2007 for his film, the lives of others, so this campaigning process is not new to them. if you have a foreign language nomination, is it somewhat different when they get an academy award or get nominated?

when the lives of others was nominated, that film a visibility, i think it's more important for foreign films in a way that it is now for american films because american films, especially if they have a good well—known actor, they're known all over the globe, and the film will get seen if it's good, a foreign language film, not necessarily. you really need to get something to to give it visibility and the academy award nomination hopefully will be helpful in that. another nominated multilayer love story set in europe, in the cold war, comes from a polish film—maker. it tells the story of the tumultuous relationship between two libraries, and it also effect in the cold war era. the remaining films in the category daily family structures, japan brought shoplifters, a family drama about a group of the shoplifters coping with poverty. another nominated film comes from a lebanese director,

and tells the story of a boy from a neglectful family trying to survive the chaos of the slums of beirut. for me, it was clear it was going to be the story of a child who's going to stand in front of the world and say stop, no more. while there's no shortage of powerful pictures in the foreign language film competition, most experts favour roma to win. it seems to be far ahead in the race, with cold war in second—place. now it's time to stick my neck out and give you my predictions on who's going to win in the key 0scar categories. so, here goes. best documentary, that prize will go to rbg,

a portrait of american supreme courtjustice, ruth bader ginsburg. the best animated feature trophy will end up in the hands of spider—man, into the spider verse, the best animated film in the spider—man franchise. best screenplay, belongs to the original screenplay for greenbook, but foreign language film will be roma, a good night for the picture. dear dolores sometimes you remind me... best supporting actress goes to amy adams for her work in vce. best director goes to alfonso cuaron for roma, i thought he shot it and wrote.

best actress goes to glenn close, nominated seven times without a win but this time she will triumph. best actor will end up in the hands of rami malik, for his portrayal of freddie mercury. and finally, the best picture prize will go to roma, which will probably take away four 0scar trophies over all, more than any other film. well, that brings this special preview edition to a close, we hope you enjoyed the show, please remember you can always reach us online. and you can find us on facebook too. from me, tom, and the rest of the production crew here in hollywood, it's goodbye, as we leave

you with the oscar—nominated song, 0ur fight from the documentary, rbg. (music) -- music # so i'll fight. # i'll be keeping on. hello there. part one of the weekend was a little bit disappointing with regard to cloud amounts for the north and west of the uk. the best of the sunshine was across eastern england, where it was pretty warm at a top temperature of 18 celsius. for sunday, it looks like it is going to be another chilly start, but i'm hopeful we will see more widespread sunshine across the country, so part two of the weekend is looking

better for most of us. this is staurday‘s weather front. no more than a bit of broken cloud first thing on sunday, most of the sunny spells for the north and the west of us, the clear spells will be across the midlands, southern and eastern england. it will be quite chilly to start the evening. some of the fog could be quite dense in places. some patches of mist and fog across the south—east of england, but i think the main patches will be a bit further north this morning, across the midlands and in towards the north and north—east of england. some of the fog could on saturday morning be problematic and cause travel issues. most of that should be away, could linger close to the east coast. if it does, it could be quite grey and cool today, but for many, it is a cool start. highs of 15 degrees, that's a few degrees down on what we've had in the last couple of days. as we head into sunday night, it looks like we're going to import something

a bit cooler and drier off the near continent, it means it will be quite cold as it passes into eastern wales, as can you see from the blue hue there. don't be surprised if you see a widespread frost here. further north and west, not quite as cold, a little bit more wind around. monday, again, a chilly start with the mist and fog, but that should tend to burn away. a weather front will bring some rain for the far north of scotland, becoming confined to the northern isles, but the rest of the country, a glorious afternoon with widespread sunshine, light winds and temperatures 15 or 16 celsius, so still well above the seasonal average. high—pressure still in the driving seat as we head on into tuesday, another weak weather front just pushing into the north—west corner of the country. more cloud into the hebrides and the north and west of scotland, and elsewhere after the restart, a little bit of mist and fog, it should be another glorious afternoon with widespread sunshine, light winds and temperatures well above the seasonal average. in fact, a little warmer on tuesday, up to 17 or 18 celsius. as we head deeper on into the weekn,

it looks like it is going to stay fine and cool. as we head on into the weekend, it looks like it will turn a bit more unsettled as well.