05/04/2014 BBC Weekend News

Millions of people defy threats of violence to go to the polls in an

historic day for Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai hails the

election to choose his successor, a proud day for democracy. The turnout

is huge, especially among women w, some forcing they're way into

polling stations. David Cameron faces new calls to

sack his Culture Secretary. The Chinese ship detects a signal

that could be from the black box of the missing Malaysian airliner.

Pineau De Re, the 11-year-old... Beating the favourite, the 25-1

outsider romps home to win the Grand National.

Hello, very good evening to you. The votes are being counted this evening

in Afghanistan's presidential election, in the country's first

democratic handover of power. Around seven million people voted, almost

double that of the last elections. There were huge queues at the

polling stations, which stayed open later than planned. A third of those

who voted were women, many more than expected. There was some violence,

20 people were killed in attacks across the country, but there wasn't

the wide-scale disruption some had feared.

Our correspondent, David Loyn, sent this report.

Voters had been queueing across the country since the early morning,

heavy rain that churned up the ground to mud would not keep them

away. In a country, which has been at war for more than 30 years, many

younger voters know of nothing but conflict and hope, beyond hope, that

their votes would make a difference. There has never been a democratic

handover in Afghanistan. To protect it, every car in the capital was

stopped and every voter checked twice. But fraud is a far higher

threat to a fair election than violence. We check by this light the

fingers like this. I tried out measures to prevent people from

voting twice, ink on one finger and a mark detectible under UV light on

the other. This is too important for Afghanistan because we saw a lot of

problem in Afghanistan, long time the war is going. That's why we need

this. We need good person. Demand in some polling centres meant ballot

papers ran low in many places. There were seven million voters, a huge

rise on last time. One third of voters were women, encouraged by

measures to protect them in this society, including voting

separately. In one polling station, the pressure of women to get in to

vote was so great they broke down a door. The largest military operation

since the fall of the Taliban was effective in preventing the Taliban

from disrupting the polls. The police say they foiled 140 potential

attacks, protecting an unprecedented event.

TRANSLATION: Despite rain, cold weather and possible terrorist

attacks, our dear sisters and brothers across the country

participated in elections and made our beloved country proud and

successful. Is no doubting the enthusiasm of Afghans for this

election. There are very high hopes and expectations being put on the

shoulders of the man who succeeds President Karzai. The campaign was

only the beginning. The real politics begins tonight, as the

candidates talk up unofficial results. Tonight, the counting began

once the polls closed. It could be weeks before the winner is declared

in this first round. There'll be a run-off in May, unless there's a

deal between the leading candidates first.

Let's put the day's events in some context with our chief international

correspondent, Lyse Doucet, also in the Afghan capital. A positive

outcome so far, but there remain big challenges ahead. Yes, it was a good

day for Afghanistan, for a country which has had more than its share of

very bad days. That's because Afghans didn't just see this as an

historic election. For many, it was a referendum about the Taliban. They

feel great pride that they were able fight back with their ballots. On

social media tonight, a finger dipped in the indelible ink is a

symbol of defiance. The Taliban haven't gone away. They're certain

to strike again. The election isn't over. There's still the counting,

with the probability of accusations of rig Iing and recrimination that

-- rigging and the recrimination that marred the last election in

2009. Whoever wins has the same problems - an economy in crisis,

security concerns linked to the withdrawal of all foreign combat

troops, including British troops, at the end of this year. Therefore,

it's going to be still, for whoever takes over from Hamid Karzai, one of

the toughest jobs in the world. Indeed. Thank you very much.

David Cameron is facing new calls to sack his Culture Secretary, Maria

Miller, over her expenses claims. She apologised to MPs earlier this

week and has repaid thousands of pounds. E-mails have been published

that Mrs Miller sent to the Parliamentary watchdog investigating

her claims. They were released as the Prime Minister prepared to

address the Conservative Spring Conference in London.

The Prime Minister went shopping first thing, small business like

this butchers could benefit from tax changes on the way next week. But

the cloud of expenses has returned, and this time, it's his Culture

Secretary. Should Maria Miller lose her job? He's accepted Maria

Miller's apology. She'll give back ?6,000 that she overclaimed. The

Prime Minister wanted to talk about money back of another sort, tax

cuts. Let's tell them why we're cutting taxes too. It's not because

we are ideologically committed to a smaller state, but it's because we

get this simple fact: It's your money. This lot are gearing up for

elections, as is he, next month and the big one next May. They're trying

to look forward. The problem is an issue of the past has reared its

head again. The questions keep coming for Maria Miller. There are

renewed accusations, fiercely disputed by the Government that one

of her senior advisors had threatened a reporter about future

press regulation. And letters the Culture Secretary exchanged with the

investigators have been released, suggesting she was reluctant to

fully cooperate. In December last year she said it would not be

appropriate for the commission to broaden its inquiry. Then she

suggested she would go over its head. "I think it is for me to write

to the Standards Committee, setting out my concerns." Labour is

continuing with the pressure. How dare she abuse and intimidate the

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards that Parliament appointed

in this way? She's not just an MP, but the member of the Government and

Cabinet responsible for press freedom in this country. But a

fellow Cabinet minister says it's time to let it go. Maria Miller has

entirely accepted what their recommendations, come to Parliament

and done that. The Prime Minister has accepted that. It doesn't seem

to me there's much other place for it to to go. Her seat of

Basingstoke, there is some concern. I personally think that she should

be sacked. She should just leave. If it had been an ordinary person

having done something like, that they would have been reprimanded

more. She said it was a genuine mistake, I imagine if that's what

she said it was, it must be. The Prime Minister has stuck by his

Culture Secretary, who is notably only one of a handful of women at

the top of the Government. There's been a potential development

in the hunt for the missing Malaysian flight MH370. Australian

authorities have confirmed that a signal, detected by a Chinese ship,

is consistent with an aircraft black box. The frequency of the pulse is

the same as that transmitted by flight recorders.

Could this Chinese ship finally have provided the breakthrough the search

for MH370 has been waiting for? The reports need to be treated with

caution and have not been confirmed by officials. But Chinese media says

the ship picked up possible signals from the plane's missing black box

flight recorder first on Friday, and then again on Saturday. The Indian

Ocean search initially began here, before moving to this area further

north. The pings were reportedly detected here, in between the two

search zones. The signals were apparently at a frequency of 37. 5

kilo hertz the same as those emitted by the black box. It's a race

against time as the flight recorder's battery lasts around 30

days. For signals heard may have nothing to do with the missing

plane. There are a number of objects it could be. There are many pieces

of kit in the oceans. Some of those transmit at the sort of frequency.

Until we know whether it's a clear signal at 37. 5, there's a

possibility that it could be other background noise from ships or even

from marine animals. Even if the signals are coming from

the black box, recovering it will be very challenging. This flight

recorder is from the Air France jet that crashed into the Atlantic in

2009. But that was in much shallower waters and in nowhere near as remote

a location. It still took two years to raise it from the ocean floor.

The search by air and by sea has now been going on for almost a month.

This could be a significant development, but it could be another

false lead. Sinn Fein has announced that Martin

McGuinness is to attend events during next week's state visit to

Britain by the Irish president, Michael D Higgins. Mr McGuinness is

expected to be a guest at a state banquet hosted by the Queen in

Windsor Castle. The party president, Gerry Adams, said it must be viewed

against the back drop of huge political change in recent years.

A convicted member of the Mafia, who avoided extradition from the UK last

month, has appeared in court again. Domenico Rancadore, who's 69, was

re-arrested in London last night after a fresh arrest warrant was

received from Italy. He was remanded in custody until his next hearing.

OK time for the sport now with news of the Grand National an the rest of

the sport. Let's go to the sports centre.

Good evening, yes, the world's greatest steeplechase lived up to

its billing as the Grand National provided plenty of excitement, while

none of the horses or jockeys were seriously injured. The winner was

the 25-1 outsider, Pineau De Re, named after a wine and trained by a

retired GP. Andy Swiss was watching at Aintree.

Even on the greyest Grand National day, Aintree was a feast of colour,

as 70,000 flocked for a race, which proved as unpredictable as ever.

First a false start, before they eventually got under way.

More than half the field, though, didn't finish, including joint

favourite Teaforthree. There were some crashing falls. For the second

year run, thankfully no injuries. Across the Bay led for much of the

race. The parge was clear for -- path was clear for Pineau De Re,

pursued by Balthazar King and Double Seven, ridden by Tony McCoy, but all

to no avail. Victory for jockey Leighton Aspell, who briefly retired

from racing a few years ago and for the trainer, Dr Richard Newland,

until recently, also a GP. Pineau De Re was his first ever runner at the

National, just what the doctor ordered. He jumped the last well and

got away from the last well. You don't know what's behind you. I

caught the commentary, saying I was six lengths clear, which is a lovely

cushion. A jockey on a comeback and a partime trainer, another victory

for National folklore. And so, despite the soggy conditions,

another dramatic Grand National and one that's earned Pineau De Re a

place in racing history. All the goals from today's seven

Premier League games will be on Match of the Day after the news. If

you want to hear the results now, here they come: With leaders

Liverpool playing tomorrow, Chelsea are now top after beating Stoke 3-0.

Frank Lampard, one of the scorers with his 250th career goal. But

Manchester City are still favourites to be crowned champions. They beat

Southampton 4-1 today and will win the league if they win their

remaining games. Elsewhere, victory for Fulham, who moved off the bottom

of the table, Crystal Palace, Hull City, Manchester United and West

Brom and Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League

today. Hearts have been relegated from the

Scottish Premiership despite their biggest win of the season today.

They beat Partick Thistle 4-2. Elsewhere wins for St Johnstone, St

Mirren and Celtic, who beat Dundee United 2-0. Anthony Stokes with

their second goal. United's defeat puts their dent in their chances of

a European place. England and Wales women continue

their perfect World Cup qualifying, England and Wales Scotland rather.

England thrashed Montenegro 9-0. Toni Duggan scoring a hat-trick.

Scotland beat Poland, 2-0. Northern Ireland were beaten 4-0 by Sweden.

Great Britain's Davis Cup tennis team are just one win away from

reaching their first semifinal for 33 years. Andy Murray won his

opening singles rubber in Naples this morning to level the tie

against Italy 1-16789 then went on -- 1-1. Then went on to partner

Colin Fleming to victory in the doubles. Murray will play Fabio

Fognini in his singles match tomorrow.

It's the quarter final weekend of the Heineken Cup. Saracens are now

the only British side left in it, after Leicest were knocked out. The

Premiership leaders came from behind to beat Ulster 17-15. England wing

Chris Ashton scoring their second try. They'll play the French side

Clermont Auvergne in the semifinals. Lewis Hamilton starts the Bahrain

Grand Prix second on the grid behind his team-mate, Nico Rosberg on pole.

That's the pole. The main news tonight: Millions of people have

gone to the polls in Afghanistan in the country's most important

election for many years. Can you hear the latest on that and all of

today's stories on the BBC News channels. That's all from me and the

team. Very good night to you. Bye-bye.

Good evening. A strengthening south-west wind may continue to

bring in a lot of mild air our way. An additional feature is

extensionive cloud and some rain, at times, for many. Both of those maybe

not quite as welcome for those of you with a Sunday off. It's not

completely wet. There will be some drier weather around, as there is

tonight across eastern areas. Heavy