26/04/2014 BBC Weekend News

A British helicopter crashes in Afghanistan - killing all five on

board. It came down during what officials say was a military

exercise - denying claims the Taliban shot it down.

New controversy for Nigel Farage - a UKIP candidate says the comedian

Lenny Henry should emigrate to what he called "a black country".

Russia faces new economic sanctions over Ukraine as it's accused of

further fuelling tension in the east of the country.

And a rapturous reception for Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford for his first

game in charge of Manchester United. Good evening. A British military

helicopter has crashed in Afghanistan, killing all five

service personnel on board. The cause of the crash is not yet clear.

The Ministry of Defence says there's no indication the aircraft was

brought down by enemy action after the Taliban claimed they shot it

down. The helicopter crashed in Kandahar in the south of the

country. It's the worst helicopter crash since the war began and comes

just months before all UK forces are due to leave Afghanistan. Our

correspondent, David Loyn, is in Kabul.

It does seem to be particularly harsh, this number of people dying,

so close to the end of the war, right in the tail end of the Afghan

conflict, only months to go before British troops withdraw completely

from the south of Afghanistan, most of the troops at the moment are

packing equipment to go home, but of course operations do continue and

that means that helicopters are involved because they are needed in

the hostile environment of the south.

Lynx helicopters have been used throughout Britain's intervention in

Afghanistan and have a very good safety record. This is the first

fatal British helicopter crash since the war began in 2001. Investigators

have not yet revealed how the crash happened. They say it was not due to

enemy fire, but the Taliban quickly claimed that they had shot it down.

The crash site is surrounded by steep hillsides. Recovery of the

wreckage is a priority. A statement from the international force ISAF

said that: "ISAF is still in the process of reviewing the

circumstances to determine more facts. Our thoughts and prayers go

out to the family and friends affected by this tragic event."

Far smaller than the Merlin and Chinook helicopters that carry

troops into battle, Lynxes have been the workhorse of the war. They can

be lightly armed, but more often carry supplies or ferry senior

personnel across areas where road travel is too dangerous. And they

work at their limits. It might well be it was an act of God, it might

well be that somehow mechanical failure happened and nothing could

have predicted it. Every journey has to be assessed on its merits. Is it

necessary and are the standards still being maintained to the last

minute that were in Afghanistan? The largest loss of life was the

crash of a Nimrod reconnaissance plane which killed 14 in 2006. This

is a reminder that although combat operations are winding down, there

are thousands of British troops still on active service in

Afghanistan. David Loyn, BBC News, Kabul.

With me now is our defence correspondent, Caroline Wyatt. It is

a huge blow for British forces? It is a shattering blow for the next of

kin who are currently being told by the MoD that their loved ones have

died. This brings to 453 the number of British service personnel killed

in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. Unusually, the MoD

because it has become public knowledge, have given a number for

concerned families to call. That should be up on your screen here

now. There is some speculation what kind of mission this was. Some

believe it could have been a Special Forces mission of some kind, but no

comment on that from the MoD. These questions we heard raised in that

report as to why when troops are so close to leaving Afghanistan. Will

it impact on operations now? I think it will have impacts on the friends

and colleagues of those who died out there. It will be felt heavily by

those who work with them and others. Investigations will be ongoing, they

will be looking at what happened and the wreckage to find out what

happened and how this tragedy occurred and so making sure as well

that it doesn't happen again before the end of combat operations which

should end by the close of this year. Thank you.

There's fresh controversy for UKIP tonight after one of its candidates

said the comedian Lenny Henry should emigrate to "a black country" and

compared Islam to the Third Reich. William Henwood, who's standing in

local elections in North London, told the BBC he didn't think his

messages on social media were offensive. The party says any breach

of its rules will be investigated. Our political correspondent Ross

Hawkins has more. There we go... This was UKIP's

leader launching his election campaign earlier this week, having

promised to weed out candidates who might distract from his party's

message. And these are some of the messages on Twitter from one UKIP

local election candidate, William Henwood, from Enfield in North

London. He wrote: "Islam reminds me of the Third Reich." He said,

"Muslims like us to fawn to them." After Lenny Henry said there should

be more black and ethnic people in the creative industries, William

Henwood said, "Lenny Henry should emigrate to a Black Country. He does

not have to live with whites." I tried to talk to William Henwood

face to face. To no avail. The UKIP candidate here didn't want to talk

to us on camera, but when I spoke to him on the phone, he said he stood

by his tweets and didn't see that they were offensive. He told me if

black people come to this country and don't like mixing with white

people, then why are they here? Earlier in the week, UKIP suspended

one of the stars of its party election broadcast. It is getting

hard to provide for my family... After it emerged that he had

described Islam as a pathetic, satanic religion. Given the

criticism we faced last year, we have put measures in place and

mistakes happen. Reacting to today's story, the party said UKIP is a

non-racist, non-sectarian party whose members are expected to uphold

these values. Any breach of our rules will be duly investigated and

action will be taken. They say political opponents who

fear his popularity are trawling through social media and running

smear campaigns and the other parties have embarrassments of their

own. Ross Hawkins, BBC News. The leaders of the G7 group of

industrialised countries have said they will impose further sanctions

on Russia over its role in the crisis in Ukraine. In a phone call

to his Russian counterpart this afternoon, the US Secretary of

State, John Kerry, expressed concern over Russia's actions, calling them

"provocative". This, as negotiators try to secure the release of a team

of military observers detained by armed pro-Russian groups in

Sloviansk. From there, Steve Rosenberg reports.

For the pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine, Sloviansk remains

their stronghold. They have taken full control here and they have

taken hostages. These ID cards and name-tags allegedly belong to a

group of European military observers. They were taken hostage

yesterday near Sloviansk. It was Russian television that was allowed

to film this. The self-proclaimed "people's mayor"

of Sloviansk, Viacheslav Ponomariov, said he believed the military

observers were spies. Ukrainian security forces are trying to seal

off Sloviansk. They call it an anti-terrorist operation. They fear

the hostages will be used as human shields.

Meanwhile, Kiev have accused Moscow of escalating tension. We urge

Russia to pull back its security forces, not to provoke and not to

support Russian terrorists that are located and deployed in eastern and

southern Ukraine. We urge Russia to leave us alone.

Today, the G7 group of economic powers that includes Britain and

America described these military exercises in southern Russia as

threatening and agreed new sanctions against Moscow. But near Sloviansk,

in the town of Krematorsk they support Moscow. We found pro-Russia

groups in control here and heavily-armed. They call it people

power. The people here say they are no

terrorists, they want their part of Ukraine to become independent. And

if Kiev's counter-terrorist operation reaches their town, they

say, they will be counting on Russia to protect them.

From wedding bells straight to the barricades. Despite all the

violence, and a threat of war, some people here are still hoping for a

better future. Steve Rosenberg, BBC News, in eastern Ukraine.

A teenager from Bristol has died in Colombia after taking part in a

traditional tribal ritual. Henry Miller, who's 19, was enjoying a gap

year before starting university in September. He is thought to have

reacted badly to drinking a herbal infusion said to cause

hallucinations. The last letter known to have been

written on the Titanic has been sold at auction for ?190,000. It's the

highest recorded price for a letter of its kind. The note was written by

one of the survivors, Esther Hart, who was on board the ship with her

husband and daughter. Daniel Boettcher reports.

The letter reads, "On board the RMS Titanic." It is dated Sunday

afternoon, Sunday 14th April. Esther Hart appears uneasy on board writing

to her mother, "No land in sight and the ship rolling from side to side."

They weren't meant to be on the Titanic. Hours after the letter was

written, the Titanic sank. The letter was found in the coat pocket

of Esther Hart's husband. He was one of more than 1,500 people to lose

their lives on the Titanic, but before the ship sank, he had given

his coat to his wife to keep her warm on the lifeboats. Today, the

letter went under the hammer, sold to an overseas phone bidder. At

?101,000, am I all done? For the last time... I am! With fees that

bid is almost ?120,000, a record for a Titanic letter. It is telling us

through the words of someone who was there on April 14th, 1912, on a

piece of Titanic stationery what they were feeling that day. I wasn't

certain what a shipwreck meant in effect, or how long it would be. I

was too terrified to do anything but shriek for my father.

It was Eva, just seven then, who signed off the letter that was sold

today, a few words - heaps of loves and kisses to all, Eva.

With all the sport, here's Lizzie Greenwood Hughes at the BBC Sport

Centre. Thanks very much. Good evening.

There were six matches in the Barclay's Premier League this

afternoon. All the goals will be on Match of the Day after the news. But

if you DO want to hear the results now, then keep watching. Ryan Giggs'

first game in charge at Manchester United ended with a 4-0 victory over

Norwich. David Ornstein reports. It was the day optimism returned. A

wretched season by Manchester United standards culminated in the sacking

of David Moyes on Tuesday. Up stepped the club's most decorated

player to transform the mood. Ryan Giggs said it was his proudest

moment to take charge of the club where he's spent his entire career.

It couldn't have gone much better. Wayne Rooney scoring either side of

half-time and Juan Mata getting two of his own to make it 4-0 against

Norwich. Giggs knows he has still a lot to learn. The football side of

it is no problem, but it is everything that comes with it. I

have had to get used to it. It's been enjoyable. David Moyes brought

us down to a new level. It is a positive move bringing somebody in

that's obviously been a player at the club for many years. Ryan Giggs

might be the choice of many fans to become the next permanent manager of

Manchester United, but the club are understood to want a more

experienced candidate, with the Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal the

favourite. The speculation over that will continue, but flanked by his

former team-mates, this day at least belonged to Ryan Giggs.

Elsewhere, Fulham gave away a 2-0 lead to draw with Hull. They're now

third from bottom. There were wins for Southampton, Tottenham and

Swansea but Aston Villa are now just four points off the relegation zone

- below West Brom who beat West Ham today.

There were three matches in the Scottish Premiership. Aberdeen drew

with St Jonhstone. Dundee United kept alive their hopes of European

football with a big win over Motherwell. And Kilmarnock slipped

into the relegation play-off position with defeat to Ross County.

Saracens are through to their first ever European Cup final after

beating Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup semi-final today. The

Premiership leaders cruised past last year's finalists winning 46-6

at Twickenham. England wing Chris Ashton breaking the record for the

most tries scored in a European Cup season.

Leeds Rhinos have beaten St Helens to reach the quarter-finals of Rugby

League's Tetley's Challenge Cup. Zak Hardaker scored two first half tries

in a game that lived-up to its billing as the pick of the 5th round

ties. 32-12 the final score at Headingley.

AP McCoy has been crowned Champion Jump jockey for the 19th consecutive

season. The Northern Irishman - who turns 40 this year - won a hurdle

race at Sandown today - to take the title with over 200 winners. McCoy

has won more than 4,000 races in his career and has broken almost every

major bone in his body. And that's the sport. Back to you, Kate.

The main news: Five British service personnel have been killed in a

helicopter crash in Afghanistan. More details on that and all of

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

team here. Good night to you. Bye-bye.

Good evening. It looks like we will see April showers aplenty across the

British isles in the next few days. At the moment, we are parked up

directly under an area of low