Control of the crimea region despite diplomatic pressure to end its intervention. 12 years a slave won best film while gravity picked up seven. Hello and welcome to bbc world news. Were going to go live to my colleague in pretoria now for the latest on the trial of Oscar Pistorius, which has just broken up for lunch. Lets find out whats been happening in the last hour or so. Karen . Reporter well, h i pretoria it is raining and raining. People are gathered under umbrellas and shelters like we are. The appetite for this trial is absolutely huge. Journalists taking shelter but they have been out hours for Oscar Pistorius to arrive at court. He did so just before the scheduled opening of the court, 10 00 local time. Now, as it happened, there was a problem with the translator. The trial didnt get under way until 11 30 local time. But already we have seen Oscar Pistorius standing up pleading not guilty. He denied the charges, the four charges he faces in the strongest terms. Now we have heard the defense accusing the police of contaminating the crime scene so far this morning. And we have heard one prosecution witness already in the first couple of hours of this trial. The prosecution have called witness number 80. Michel berger heard blood occurred elling screams she said in the early hours of valentines day 2013. She was questioned just before the court broke for lunch. This report on the days events so far. Reporter Oscar Pistorius is escorted into the high court in the heart of pretoria for one of the most highprofile trials to ever take place in this country. Hundreds turned out in the drizzle to see the arrival of the double amputee who rose to become a sporting hero and celebrity. Theres an encampment of Television Crews from south africa and around the world. Even a television drone made an appearance. Relatives of both Oscar Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp present. At the start of the trial, he was asked to plead to the central charge of murder as well as firearms charges related to separate occasions. Did you understand the charges, mr. Pistorius . I do. I do, my lady. How do you plead . Not guilty. Reporter Michel Berger described how she and her husband heard screams and then shots on the fateful night. She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then i also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help. Reporter if the judge finds him guilty of premeditated murder and does not accept his claim that it was a tragic accident, he could be jailed for at least 25 years. Reporter well, it is still raining as the court breaks for lunch here for possibly an hour or so. With me is a South African journalist who is following the trial and has been all along. We have been watching the pictures much like everybody around the world. What did you make of Oscar Pistoriuss demeanor . Well, tense. Certainly a whole lot more composed during his bail hearing when he cried uncontrollably. When he was asked of outline four charges he said, yes, my lady. How do you plead . Not guilty, my lady, with a firm voice. So that was it. I was very interested that nell, the prosecutor, mentioned, they have nothing but circumstantial evidence. That is why i think they put Michel Berger on first, the neighbor or near neighbor. She was living in an adjoining complex, not even the same complex as oscar. And it is her that is able to say there were screams and gunshots. She actually heard them. I know in the bail hearing they got hold of one of the witnesses and said how far away were you . So there was an issue of distance. Now obviously crossexamination is going to be very interesting. But harry nell admitting they have circumstantial evidence, no eyewitnesses. What did the defense say before we heard from the first prosecution witness . What did it say about the way this has gone . The defense has played their cards close to the chest. The prosecution has come up with everything. And the point number one was did reeva and oscar have a fight on that night . That is what they are pointing to here. Why did he refuse help from security when they called him. Thirdly, did police contaminate the crime scene . Thats the only thing they have raised so far. After lunch, what do we expect from the afternoons proceedings . Do we think the defense will will crossexamination the prosecution witness or does that wait for another day . No, no. The moment the prosecution is finished, the defense will move in. We will see barry rube, if he is as good as people are saying. He doesnt get out of bed for 0 less than 40,000 rapbld a day. Well see how he tries to pick apart this issue. And if indeed they were blood occurred elling, why go to sleep afterwards . Were expecting a very tough line of questions. The crowd is waiting for this. And the millions watching are going to get full value. And the families in the court, we have seen Reeva Steenkamps mother wiping around tears. June steenkamp decided to come to this first day. She wanted to face him in the eye. He is facing the same direction as the steenkamp family. Its not that direct contact we may have visualized. I dont think there has been direct eye contact. She said that to the british newspaper that she needs to do this, she needs to know if her daughter suffered. There was no indication except the part where they mentioned the blood curdling screams. Her husband barry is not there supporting her today. Hes apparently unwell. So that drama of oscar having to face her is something we have yet to see. Lets not forget this Michel Berger refused to be filmed. We saw the witness we have heard from, the neighbor . We have seen the South African coat of arms and we hear it all in audio. They led the questions in english and she responded, michel did. It was the last of an africans interpreter. They walked into the courtroom, saw the melee, saw the confusion, burst into tears and said, im sorry, i cant do this and just backed out. So they had to find somebody else. John, thank you very much for summing up what we have seen so far today and what we might be expecting in the forthcoming hours. Until the court resumes, its back to london. Karen, thanks very much indeed. We will of course keep you up to date as soon as events begin again. They have broken up for lunch. We will return you there. Lets move on to our other top stories today and to events first of all, in ukraine. The Russian Foreign minister says russia has chosen to intervene because the lives of its citizens are under threat. William hague is also in kiev for talks at the moment with the interim government. He described it as the biggest crisis in europe this century. Speaking at 5eu News Conference, i warned consequence else for russia if it didnt respect ukrainian territory. If this situation cannot be resolved, there will have to be other consequences and other costs. And im not going to say today what all of those are. We will act in a united way with other nations in the world. The European Union meeting today will gate some of the things, some of the areas that might be involved, subject to the discussions of my colleagues in brussels. So russia should be no doubt about this. This is something we take very seriously, we have to take very seriously. Because if this is if this becomes the normal way of behaving in the world, of intruding upon and violating the sovereignty of neighbors, clearly that would be an even bigger crisis in international affairs. William hague there. Lets go to geneva where the Russian Foreign minister has been speak. Sergei lavrov, what did he have to say . Reporter it was interesting, an astonishing really. He had a prepared speech. This was clearly aimed at events in syria. And he said that military intervention usually abnormally harmed civilians and that you shouldnt intervene on the pretext of protecting civilians. And then all of a sudden he departed into a very robust, angry defense on russias actions in ukraine in which he said russia intervened military to protect russian civilians. So, you know, our experience of Sergei Lavrov in geneva is normally a very clever operator. A clever foreign diplomat. But his speech today was really caught contradictory. Not the one he planned to make. Obviously changed on the plane coming over here to insert the section in which he was very blunt. Its our business. We need to protect russian civilians in ukraine. Sit important to understand why ukraine matters so much in russia. Did he spell out the historical links . Not so much, no. What he talked about was ultra nationalists, violent extremists. He was referring to some of the protests we have seen in kiev. He talked about overtones of antisemitism. And he talked about the fact that there are a great many people of ethnic russian origin in ukraine. And he said they felt threatened. Their lives were at risk. And therefore it was russias duty to protect them. And this is why russia had intervenes. And, you know, he also suggested that obviously the russian fleet and the black sea stays in crimea. In terms of geopolitics, no, he wanted to steer clear of that. Imogene fuchs, thank you for that. He will ask to refrain from any rhetoric that would further escalate the situation and saying the situation is of the utmost importance to restore calm through dialogue, which is what everyone of course is saying inevitably. Well, what are the effects of all of this on on the markets . The ruble has hit an all time low. The world is watching these events very, very closely. We always use the expression its well used, the market hates uncertainty. Geopolitical uncertainty spooking the markets. Asian markets were lower overnight off the back of the moods over the weekend in the crimea region. Down nearly 2 . European markets are trading as we speak. Ftse down about 1. 5 . Main market in germany taking a 2. 5 fall. Paris down 2 . Oil prices up. Russia taking the main market in russia had fallen 10 . You mentioned the roble at 2 . Record lows against the dollar and the euro. On top of that gas, were looking at gas prices, russia supplies 25 of the gas. Half passes through ukraine. Whats and corn, can i just get this in, ukraine is one of the major world exporters for wheat and corn. We could see prices go up as well. A bit of Global Impact going on. Thanks very much indeed. We will keep you upto date on whats going on. Ban kimoon saying that dialogue must commence now to engage with ukraine constructively and through peaceful means. We will get the very latest as it comes in. North korea has test fired two shortrange missiles into the sea off the east coast. Its the second time in the past few days this has handled. They flew 500 kilometers and they called it a provacative act a number of people involved in a rampage at a railway station. They were armed with machetes and slashed people at random. Attacks carried out eus limb militant group. 50 were killed and two bomb blasts. Many of them were children. Stay with us here on bbc world news. Much more to come. At the oscars, best actor and actress for Matthew Mcconnaughey and Cate Blanchett and seriously starstudded celebrations. But. The answers. The solutions. The innovations. All waiting to help us build Something Better. Something more amazing. A safer, cleaner, brighter future. At boeing, thats what building Something Better is all about. [ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat . 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Diplomatic efforts to calm tensions in ukraine intensify as it is the worst European Crisis this century. For more on events in ukraine, bbcs david stern is in kiev for us. David, we have seen the British Foreign secretary William Hague there. Why is he in kiev . We know that the american secretary of state is also on his way. Its a very clear sign of intent, isnt it . Well, yes. The standoff continues on the crimean peninsula. Russian troops are apparently in defacto control. And concern and worry and anger is raising here in the capital. Mr. Hague has come here to express support. He has been meeting with top officials. We have just heard from him at a News Conference with the interim Prime Minister. Mr. Hague says there will be consequences and costs to the russians actions. He promises a strong economic and diplomatic reaction from the west. But he has also ruled out military environment. He was the man who said ukraine was on the brink of disaster and this is a red alert situation. He has said that crimea is ukrainian territory. Ukraine will not give it up. And ultimately the Russian Occupation as they refer to it and as the west are referring to it will not stand. The question is what exactly this deposit can do. The army obviously is much smaller than the russian army. They have told their troops not to fire the first shot, rather not to give russia a pretext. But they are looking towards the west for support. The question is whether the support that the west does provide will be enough to deescalate this crisis. Okay. David stern, well leave it there. Thousands of Orthodox Jews are in protest over a draft to the army. Reporter this is how many of the streets of west jerusalem look right now. Traffic has been completely blocked off. Thousands of thousands of Orthodox Jews have come out against government plans to draft more young men from their community into the army. The cabinet already agreed last year it was going to end an exemption for the students, the seminaries are Orthodox Jews study. They would see a quota for the number of Orthodox Jews entering the military or else doing civilian public service. Many believe their religious lifestyle is under attack. Their lifestyle is waking up in the morning and going to synagogue, going to pray. Thats all it is. Praying and learning. Thats all it is. Nothing past that. And doing the commandments. Thats it. We were brought up in a different way than that. We were brought up in a way that we strictly are our services to god. And we split up into two sections. If youre fit enough you go to the army, you go to the army. Many in israels secular majority changing the law and ending the exemption is about ending an historic injustice and sharing a social burden. When the state of israel was created in 1948, Orthodox Jews made up a a tiny percentage of society. Now because of their high birth rate they account for 10 of israels population. Now, at the oscars in los angeles, 12 years a slave has won for best picture. Matthew mcconnaughey took best actor for dallas buyers club. Gravity was also a big winner. Reporter you cant keep everyone at the oscars happy all the time. But lupita certainly had something to dance about. 12 years a slave was her first feature film. Steve mcqueen you charge everything you fashion with a breath of your own spirit. Thank you so much for putting me in this position. It has been the joy of my life. Steve mcqueens brutal story of slavery was tipped for top honors alongside gravity. It won seven oscars of all. Can you take it . I cant get everyone in here. This years host Ellen Degeneres played it safe and simple. She tweeted a star packed picture that grinded the social network to a halt. Cate blanchett won best actress for her performance in blue jasmine. Thank you so much for casting me. Leto took the prize for best supporting actor. The oscar for best picture went to 12 years a slave. Its wellknown producer made the introductions to the man of the moment. I dedicate this a award to all the people who have endured slavery and the 21 Million People who still suffer slavery today. Thank you very much. Thank you. The first black director to win best movie. And what a way to celebrate. Bbc news in hollywood. Fabulous night, obviously. A reminder before we good of our top story. The South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend at the start of his trial in pretoria. Hes accused of intentionally killing the model and reality tv star Reeva Steenkamp. He fired four shots through a bathroom door said he killed her by accident after mistaking her for an intruder. Has begun. Command the power. Exhilaration. 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