28/03/2014 BBC News at Ten

and Wales. Last minute preparations for this couple's big day, after MPs

approved a change in the law last year. God never made two same-sex

people to live together like that. Man and woman. Everyone has to

live. No problem in it at all. Each to their own.

Tonight, David Cameron said same-sex marriage will send a "powerful

message" about equality in Britain. Also on the programme: Air crews

spot more objects in the Indian Ocean.

A ship is heading to the search area to find out if they're from the

missing plane. Teenagers with tales of torture at

the hands of Egypt's military-backed government. We have an exclusive

report. Unhappy fans plan to take to the

skies to complain about Manchester United's manager and the club's

flagging fortunes. And hearing for the first time -

tears of joy for this woman who was born deaf.

In Sportsday, the last two unbeaten teams in rugby league's Superleague

battle it out as St Helens take on Leeds.

Good evening. In just two hours' time, gay men and

women can be legally married in England and Wales for the first time

in history. Some couples are preparing to tie the knot at

midnight, wanting their wedding to be one of the first same-sex

marriages. The Prime Minister called it an "important moment" in

Britain's history. A BBC poll on the eve of the change finds most people

are in favour of same-sex marriage - 68% of those surveyed.

26% remain opposed. Younger people are more likely to

support gay marriage, with 80% of that age group backing it, compared

to 44% of people over 65. But the poll also found some, 22%, are so

against it they'd refuse an invitation to a gay wedding. Our

correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti reports.

We put put one across the back. It is a day they thought would never

come, but in a few hours, Terry 's and Helen will be part of a ritual

that millions of heterosexual couples take for granted. They are

getting married. The option of a Civil Partnership Act is not for

them. They wanted full equality and now they have got it. I did not want

anybody to devalue my marriage that way. I wanted to be equal on all

levels, with my mum, my dad and everybody I know that has a

marriage. They will have a humanist ceremony after the registry office,

but they could not have had a church wedding, even if they wanted one.

After major resistance from religious groups, it was made

illegal for both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches to conduct

same-sex marriages. It means from tonight there will be two legal

definitions of marriage, that recognised by the church and that

recognised by the state. Senior clergy acknowledge it is messy but

they say traditional beliefs run deep. The traditional belief of

marriage as the union of man and woman for life. It is untidy for the

law to have two definitions because the canon law of the Church of

England is part of the law of the land. But we can live with

untidiness. The church is not alone, a BBC survey suggests one in five

adults would turn down an invitation to a same-sex marriage, a sizeable

minority. People's divided opinions were loud and clear today. God never

made two same-sex people to live together like that. Man and woman.

Everyone has to live, no problem with it. Each to their own. But if

the battle to have equal marriage rights in law has been won, a new

confrontation is opening within the church. The Church of England will

not conduct same-sex marriages, and last month it made clear that it

will not tolerate its clergy marrying their same-sex partners

either, but some vicars are now getting ready to defy the church.

Reverend Andrew Caine has been with his male partner for many years, and

they are determined to get married this summer. He describes himself as

a faithful Christian priest, but by having a same-sex marriage, he will

bring himself into direct conflict with the church. It is more

important to do what is right than to be frightened into not doing what

I believe to be true. And I want to be frightened by what the possible

consequences might be. What might they be? I could lose my job,

absolutely. My job, my home and my place. I have worked for the church

for 25 years. For the country, this is a huge moment in society's

concept of what marriage is, celebrated with the flying of the

rainbow flag, representing gay pride, over Whitehall. At the heart

of the establishment, a gay symbol heralding what is a new era.

As you said, an important moment. Is the legislation settled? This is a

defining change and it is hard to get a perspective on it right now.

It may come to sit alongside the big liberalising moves in the 1960s,

including decriminalising homosexuality. Legally, there are a

few loose ends. What will happen to civil partnerships, which have been

available to gay couples since 2005? Will they just be closed to future

couples and become a historical quirk, or will they be extended to

heterosexual couples? This is something the government is

consulting on. For couples now in a civil partnership who want to

convert a marriage, they have to wait until the end of the year. And

worries remain about what this does to the definition of marriage. There

is a sizeable section of the population that is not convinced by

same-sex marriage, because of religious reasons. But some of them

because they believe marriage is about procreation. They accept that

not all heterosexual marriages result in children but they say that

is the basis for the formal recognition of that union in law.

Despite the dissenters, it is worth reflecting that, if you look at it,

there is political unanimity about this issue. If you look at the three

main parties, they are united in support of same-sex marriages. That

was unthinkable ten or 15 years ago, and that is a momentous change.

Five search planes have spotted more floating objects in the Indian Ocean

that could be debris from the Malaysian airliner that went missing

three weeks ago. Search efforts had focussed on an area around 1500

miles off the south-west coast of Australia.

But the focus has now moved to a narrower area 700 miles to the

north-east, after new data suggested the plane ran out of fuel earlier.

But it's still 200,000 square miles, bigger than the size of Britain. The

BBC's Jon Donnison spent the day with Australian air crews looking

for the plane. Three weeks on, and still looking.

But a new search zone. We were invited to fly with the stray alien

air force on an 11 hour round trip. -- the Australian air force. The

crew were energised and hopeful that today could be the day. Here, they

are dropping flares to try to pinpoint where several objects were

spotted in the water below. We have seen several orange items. We have

also seen several items that appeared to be blue in colour,

slightly below the surface. The orange items are those that we are

going to concentrate on at this time, trying to get some good photos

that can be further assessed after the flight. We were on one of five

planes that reported seeing dozens of objects. So far the only photo

released is this one from the New Zealand search team. What we have

seen today is that even when the air crews do spot something, it is

pretty difficult to find it again. That is going to apply to any ships

heading out here to try to pick whatever it is out of the water so

it can be identified. That task could fall to a Chinese patrol

ship, which was the first to arrive in the new search zone. And until it

is confirmed that any objects are indeed part of the wreckage, some

are refusing to believe the worst. Until there is concrete proof that

those passengers are dead, I can't let go of that. Sarah's partner was

a passenger on MH370. Without proof, she maintains hope he is

still alive. Because the only alternative to that scenario is that

he is still strapped in a seat at the bottom of the ocean, and I am

not sure I want to live with that. The search teams are working until

the light gives up. It is almost midnight by the time they are back

home. They will fly again at dawn. It has emerged in the last hour that

Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has telephoned President Obama to

discuss the US position on the situation in the Ukraine. Mark

Mardell joins me. Do we know what was said? It appears that President

Putin phoned President Obama, who is in Saudi Arabia, and according to

the White House he was seeking a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine

crisis. The White House made the president sound very tough. He told

them Russian troops would have to withdraw from the eastern Ukraine

border, and that there have to be proposals put by President Putin in

writing. They agreed that their foreign ministers should meet. The

Kremlin readout is different. It has President Putin talking about

extremists rampaging over the Ukraine. But he is also talking

about a global resolution to find to the crisis, finding a solution. It

is pretty early days. The call has only just happened, but it sounds as

though the Russians are backing away from further conflict and looking

for a diplomatic solution. The Government insists its policy of

cutting the housing benefit of claimants with at least one spare

room "remains on track". Critics have called it the bedroom tax but

ministers say the aim is to reduce the housing benefit bill. They also

want to encourage those living in homes bigger than they need to move

to smaller ones, freeing up much needed social housing stock. But

figures obtained by the BBC suggest that so far the policy is only

having a limited effect. Our social affairs correspondent Michael

Buchanan reports. If you go five minutes down there

you will find some shops. June Dennis feels lucky. She likes her

new neighbourhood in Hull and her new home. She has downsized to this

one-bedroom flat from a three-bedroom house where she was

building up rent arrears. I have a smaller place so it is easier to

clean and keep on top of things. You don't need a big place when you are

on your own. And you don't have to worry about rent. Know, so I am not

getting in rent arrears. Encouraging people like her to come here from an

under occupied homes was a key aim of last year's housing benefit cut,

as social housing benefit claimants do not move as often as those of --

as often as those in the private rented sector. Her previous flat was

a three-bedroom flat above an alleyway. Turning these into

comfortable one-bedroom flat as a positive outcome from the welfare

change but the bottom line is there simply are not enough smaller

properties for people to move into, so they are not moving. We have

gathered data from over 200 local authorities and over 100 housing

associations. Information from councils in Scotland, England and

Wales suggests 6% of council tenants whose benefit was reduced have

moved. If you have the figures from housing associations, 28% of tenants

who were debt free a year ago are now in rent arrears. While the

government gave councils money to help tenants in need, millions

remain unspent. Ministers say the benefit cut was necessary and is

saving taxpayers over ?1 million a day. We are working with people,

making sure that people build the right size of properties because for

too long they have not. We are still seeing some housing associations

building three-bedroom accommodation. Marion Smith would

love a three-bedroom house. Her family squeeze into this two bedroom

flat in Aberdeen. They hoped the bed -- the benefit changes free up a

larger home but it has not. We are 36 in line for a house, and there is

maybe one being filled every year. We have been told it will be

decades, so we have had to accept that we are stuck here. Most people

who had their benefit cut have stayed in paid, but one year on, the

policy remains controversial. In Egypt, supporters of the banned

Muslim Brotherhood have been protesting against the decision by

the country's defence minister to stand for the presidency. Field

Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is seen as part of a military backed

government which has been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people

since President Morsi was ousted. Thousands have also been held in

custody and, as Orla Guerin has been finding out, some are emerging with

allegations of torture. Coming together to break bread. A

family north of Cairo. Back in their midst, 15-year-old Ahmed, a

schoolboy who said he was taught a lesson in torture. He told us his

ordeal began in late January, when he was detained near an Islamist

protest and held for a month. With his father by his side, he described

being electrocuted repeatedly at a local police station. TRANSLATION:

They electrocuted me insensitive places like my spine, on my arms and

sensitive areas like between my legs. When they electrocuted me, I

used to fall down on the ground and I couldn't stand up. At the same

time, they were beating me. Sometimes they would throw water, to

increase the voltage. We tracked down another former detainee with

and horrific story of police abuse. 19-year-old Yassin is a democracy

campaigner. He says he is speaking out for the sake of others who are

still being tortured. TRANSLATION: I was surprised when they took off my

trousers. Then they put the wires on me. I felt like I was screaming and

shouting. You feel that's it, you are going to die. Yassin says his

torment also included sexual assault. His account is too

disturbing to broadcast. 19-year-old Ayat told us when she was arrested

she suffered a similar fate. In this conservative society, it is a rare

admission. TRANSLATION: It was physical. I don't dare to explain

more. But they harassed me and another girl in a very, very

humiliating way. The aim was to break our spirits. Her fellow

student was detained separately. She says she was publicly shamed when

she was brought to hospital in handcuffs and forced to have a

pregnancy test. It is easy to get detained in new jet these days. Just

go to a protest, or even passed by. -- Egypt. Once in police hands,

human rights groups say, an increasing number are suffering

barbaric abuse. We asked the authorities for their response to

the growing allegations of torture. TRANSLATION: I categorically deny

that there is any such thing as a electrocution or torture in prisons

or police stations. Are you honestly saying that there has not been a

single abuse within a police station or prison in recent months?

TRANSLATION: There might be some mistakes, or transgressions in

police stations. However, they don't reach the level of torture. Many

would disagree, including these protesters. They are demanding the

release of thousands detained under Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt's former

army chief and likely next President. Human rights campaigners

fear that torture could tighten its grip under General Al-Sisi.

David Cameron appears to have won over a significant ally in his

efforts to protect British interests in Europe. The German finance

minister has said EU countries that don't use the Euro as a currency

must be consulted with and legally protected from any major policy

changes within the eurozone. Let's speak to our Political Correspondent

Ben Wright who's in Brussels. Explain what it all means. Well,

this is significant. Proof, I think, that Britain's recent efforts

to butter up Berlin are paying off. The consequences this, as a

consequence of the eurozone crisis, countries that have the euro are

being bound much more tightly together. Germany, the most our full

country in Europe, is driving that process. Howard will work is being

discussed in endless negotiations now. The concern of countries

outside the eurozone, including Britain, is that their access to the

single market will suffer as a result. Today, in an article he has

written with George Osborne, the German finance minister has said in

a new treaty that could emerge to put this economic union in place,

countries outside the eurozone would be guaranteed fairness. That is

going to be pretty reassuring to Britain, to the City of London in

particular and to Downing Street. Politically, the timing of this is

very interesting. It helps David Cameron, because as Nick Clegg and

Nigel Farage argue about if we should be in or out of Europe, it

allows the Conservatives to say these are things we are getting out

of Europe now in Britain's interests. But what we are talking

about today is a long way from the sort of things David Cameron is

promising in terms of ringing powers back to Brussels -- bringing powers

back from Brussels, which is what he wants to put to voters in a

referendum in 2015 if he is still Prime Minister. He has shown that

Berlin is still an important ally and friend of David Cameron, but

getting that transfer of powers is going to be a far harder battle to

win. Some of the day's other news

stories: The financial watchdog is to investigate the way details of

its inquiry into ensuring schemes were made public. Shares in somewhat

Britain's biggest financial institutions fell sharply today,

after the other already said it was looking at whether some policies set

up between the 1970s and 2000 still represented good value for money.

A nurse has been arrested again in connection with the poisoning of

patients at Stockport's Stepping Hill Hospital. Victorino Chua was

arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder, 18 counts of

causing grievous bodily harm and poisoning offences at the hospital.

22 suspects have been identified by two investigations into the

Hillsborough disaster in 1989. The Independent Police Complaints

Commission has begun interviewing 13 serving and retired officers. A

separate criminal investigation, Operation Resolve, has also

identified 13 suspects. Unhappy Manchester United fans are planning

to fly a plane over Old Trafford tomorrow, trailing a banner calling

for the club's manager David Moyes to step down. It comes after an

increasingly troubled season for United, not helped this week by a

heavy home defeat to arch rivals City.

The message couldn't be clearer. A banner demanding the sacking of

Manchester United manager David Moyes, which a group of disgruntled

fans have paid ?800 to have flown over Old Trafford when their team

play Aston Villa. It mocks this, a banner inside the stadium which

refers to David Moyes being Alex Ferguson's hand-picked successor.

The manager has endured a torrid first season, but insists that the

unprecedented flyby protest will not affect him. I have heard of it, what

they are saying about it, but this is a long journey here. This is only

the start of the journey. People can do that, they are entitled to do

that. But I have to say, I am more driven to succeed more than ever.

But success has been hard to come by. A 3-0 loss to archrivals and

Chester city this week, the 10th league defeat of a season to forget.

When this plane takes off from here tomorrow for its controversial

flight above Old Trafford, it will be the latest humiliation this

season for David Moyes. A low, for a club so used to success. This time

last year, United were top of the table, going on to become Premier

League champions for a 20th time. This time they are in seventh and

guaranteed to suffered their worst finish in the com petition's

history. I can totally understand the feeling of the supporters that

got together to put this banner in place. It is a manifestation of the

way they feel about the seriousness of the problem. Many fans still want

to David Moyes to be given more time and he maintains the support of the

club. Tomorrow he will be reminded that some have had enough.

Joanne Milne had been deaf since birth and had a never heard a sound.

But all that changed this week when, after 39 years of silence, cochlear

implants meant she was able to hear voices and sounds for the first time

in her life. And it was all captured on camera by her mother, as Danny

Savage explains. Monday, Tuesday... A look of shock

and disbelief. For the first time in her life, Joanne Milne has just

heard another human voice. Medics are switched on cochlear implants

that have been put in her ears. A world of sound has just opened up to

the 39-year-old. Back home in Gateshead, Jo her mum discuss what

it is like for her to hear herself talking. I've had a few days to get

used to it now. Back on Monday, it was very, very strange to hear my

accent. You know, my Geordie accent. It was just amazing, because I

thought all voices sounded very similar. My mum has her own voice,

my therapist had her own voice, it was baffling. The charity work also

has very poor eyesight, but has been told to get out as much as possible

to listen to the world and learn sounds. The noisy kittiwakes and the

Tyne Bridge unfamiliar to many people here, but not too Jo. The

number of times I have walked under the Tyne Bridge and not realised

that there were birds above me. I can hear them now. That's my sound

for today. March, April, May, June. November, December. The film of her

hearing for the first time has gone viral. It's just been fantastic. Jo

turns 40 this summer and says life really is beginning for her.