03/03/2016 BBC News at Ten

Tonight at Ten, a warning from the French that Britain

will face "consequences" if it leaves the EU.

David Cameron visits Amiens, where President Hollande says that

Britain should stay in or face inevitable fallout.

TRANSLATION: There is the question of consequences if Britain

There's the single market, free trade and also

As the French clear the migrant camp in Calais, the UK promises more

money to improve security around the port.

But a warning that British border controls in France could be scrapped

if the UK leaves the EU got this response.

Look, that was agreed by an international treaty

between Britain and France a few years ago.

And all this as the President of the European Council warns

The Germans expressed their desire for the Britain to stay in the EU.

Also tonight. Sunderland defence the decision to keep selecting Alan

Johnson while he was on child sex charges.

After his latest success Donald Trump finds himself under

heavy fire from some big Republican names.

Donald Trump is iPhone, a fraud, his promises are as worthless as a

degree from Trump University. -- is a phoney.

Inside Syria, a special report on the deals being negotiated

between Russian forces and local leaders.

I want everybody out there on TV to know it.

And retelling the story of the great Muhammad Ali,

with a major new exhibition in London.

Coming up in Sportsday: Three medals for Great Britain on day two

of the Track Cycling World Championships in London.

Laura Trott takes gold in the scratch race,

The network of British border controls on French soil set up more

than 20 years ago could be scrapped if the UK leaves the European Union.

The warning came from France's economy minister on the day

David Cameron was in Paris holding talks with President Hollande.

Mr Cameron announced that Britain would spend ?17 million to improve

security at Calais, while President Hollande warned

of "consequences" if Britain left the EU.

Our political correspondent Ben Wright reports.

Solidarity,, rating the Somme. France and Britain standing

together, with a vote close David Cameron has a political fight on his

hands and France seems keen to help. Now a salesman for Britain's EU

membership, David Cameron used this summit to trumpet areas he says the

UK benefits, from security to jobs. By minister, campaigners for Britain

to leave the EU say on issues from security to Calais, you are

scaremongering. RU? It's hardly surprising, is it, that France is

prepared to echo your views on this. When it comes to security, our

borders, I'm convinced we are better off, we are stronger insider

reformed European Union. I will go on making those arguments drawing on

my experience, not making hypothetical claims, dealing with

the reality. And could France stir up a deal that keeps British border

guards in Calais, if Britain left the EU? The French president did not

say yes, but... TRANSLATION: I don't want to scare

you but I just want to say the truth. There will be consequences if

the UK is to leave the EU. There will be consequences in many areas.

A more guarded and than this French minister gave in a newspaper

interview. Emmanuel Macron was mobbed at an agricultural show in

Paris after suggesting France could let migrants cross the Channel to

Britain if it left the EU. This is Calais, where around 4000 migrants

are stuck, hoping to find a way to Britain. But for 13 years British

border officials have been posted here to check the status of migrants

before they leave French soil. It's an agreement between fans and the

UK, not an EU deal. And either country can terminate the

arrangement if they give six months' notice. Leave campaigners rubbished

the idea that deal would be scrapped if Britain left the EU. Donnez-moi

un break that was agreed by an international treaty between Britain

and France a few years ago. It has nothing to do with the EU, there's

no reason, you have to wonder about the timing of this particular

adventure. It's all part of a project to try and scare people into

wanting to stay in the EU, when actually all the arguments are in

favour of is taking back control and being big enough to stand on our own

two feet. France and Britain disagreed a lot on the EU

negotiation but Paris has effectively rejoined the remain

campaign, as will other EU countries that want Britain to stay in. But

we'll France's warning about consequences caused concern or

incredulity among British voters? Ben Wright, BBC News, Amiens.

The UK's long-term economic future could be brighter outside the EU,

according to John Longworth, the head of the British Chambers of

He was speaking at the organisation's annual conference,

also being attended by the German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble,

who insisted the EU would be more unstable

Our economics editor Kamal Ahmed has more details.

Anthony Gould remembers the last time Britain voted on membership

of what was then the European Economic Community.

The media entrepreneur from Kent, who exports around the world,

This time, he'll be dancing to a different tune.

EU membership in the early years definitely helped,

but recently there's so much regulation and difficulties

would be in the interests of our business to leave the EU.

When it comes to the question of the European Union -

At today's conference of leading small firms, the tone was sceptical.

The negotiations the Prime Minister came out with were actually

inadequate, far short of what the BCC wanted,

and actually on the balance of probabilities now that Britain

could have a bright future outside of the European Union,

just as it would have done had we stayed in with a truly reformed

Both sides in this EU referendum debate would love to grab

the business vote for themselves, but although there have been some

sceptical voices here today, for other businesses the tone

Carmaking in the UK employs 800,000 people.

Today, the SMMT trade body said 77% of their members backed Britain

We think that being part of a reformed Europe and playing

a role in that reformation is really, really important for not

only Europe but also the UK in Europe.

In London today, the German finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble.

He was asked for his reaction should the UK leave.

Look, it's a decision of the British people, of course.

Business leaders left tonight after a day dominated by Europe.

They are, of course, also voters, and will have their say on June

Our Europe editor Katya Adler is in Brussels tonight.

What are we to make of two big interventions in one day from France

and Germany, and not exactly unhelpful for Mr Cameron? Not

exactly unhelpful, but were they cynically hatched by a plotting

Prime Minister determined to win a referendum on EU membership?

Unlikely and not just because he say so, because he would, but because

those remarks were made by leading international politicians, not

puppets of Number Ten. But is Downing Street letting it be known

amongst global friends that David Cameron might have made during his

years in office that it would be helpful to have their pro-UK in the

EU views known? Undoubtedly, we certainly got that message loud and

clear at a recent meeting of the G20's powerful finance ministers.

But these statements are also made out of self-interest. Germany really

does worry that the EU without the UK will be considerably weaker,

while the French President's archrival in elections that follow

the UK's referendum is a passionate Eurosceptic, so Brexit would play

into her hand and against President Hollande, so he wants to avoid it.

European leaders though that were unlikely to hear from in the lead up

to the referendum are those hearing brussels, the EU chiefs. If they

tell Britain to stay in the EU, they worry that will hinder rather than

help the remain campaign. But one thing they can do, they tell us, is

to try to sort out the EU's refugee and migrant crisis, filling the news

with scenes of chaos and EU splits and wrists. The worry and fear here

is that could send British voters running towards the doors marked EU

exit, and that is something that Germany, France and the rest of the

EU really, really want to avoid. Katya Adler in Brussels. Staying

with the final point catcher was The President of the European

Council, Donald Tusk, has warned would-be illegal economic

migrants not to come to Europe. He said they should not

risk their lives and money Mr Tusk is visiting Greece

and Turkey to try to secure agreement on reducing the flow

of migrants heading for the west. In the past year, nearly a million

migrants have passed through Greece. Up to 12,000 people are currently

stranded at Idomeni on the Greek border waiting to

cross into Macedonia. Our correspondent Danny

Savage sent this report. Where Greece meets Macedonia,

a growing number of people They want to move on, but can't,

so today, they protested. Ever since the tear gassing

incident here on Monday, it's been fairly quiet

when it comes to protests, but today, they flared up again

with the migrants blocking the main railway track and calling

for a greater flow of people Either it breaks up peacefully,

or the police will move I don't feel like a

human being anymore. Because I sleep in

the middle of nowhere. Most here are Syrians and Iraqis,

who say they are refugees fleeing by EU leaders as economic migrants,

told today not to waste their time You've gone through

the fence seven times. This 26-year-old, who wanted

to remain anonymous, I say to people who would

like to come here, stop. Don't come, don't lose your money,

your job, your family, your time. Back at the border

the demonstration ended peacefully. The primitive living conditions

here are taking their toll. Children especially

are falling sick. This Syrian family have

a nine-year-old who is diabetic and six-month-old twins,

who they have been told shouldn't A trickle of people crossing to move

up the migrant trail is just This crush developed

when we were at the border It's terrible, but everyone

is just wanting to cross, so everyone is just pushing,

making it tough for everyone. Discouraging economic

migrants is one thing, but nearly all of these people don't

fall into that category. They are Europe's problem

and current plans to deal with them One of the most important elements

in reducing the flow of migrants into Europe would be an end

to the conflict in Syria. The UN said the current ceasefire -

now in its sixth day - was fragile, but appeared

to be holding. Our correspondent Steve Rosenberg

has been allowed to follow Russian He has been taken to the village

of Maarzaf in Hama Province, and also to the district

of Al-Tal, north of Damascus, Sometimes, even the Russian army

needs a little extra help. We've been given a local escort

for a Russian peace mission. We head into the mountains

of Syria's Hama province. The Russian military wants to show

us how it is encouraging peace Until recently, this village

was under rebel control. But the village elders have agreed

to sign a declaration of peace The middleman who negotiated this

is a local sheikh, Ahmad Mubarak. He is pro-Moscow and he has been

helping the Russians do deals The sheikh is not only

well respected here, In Syria, the difference between war

and peace isn't always clear. Thanks to the Russians,

there is a truce in Syria, Sheikh Mubarak says,

and now they're helping us Deal done - the residents of Maarzaf

are given humanitarian aid and the chance for a checkup

with a Russian army doctor. How do you end a civil war which has

left more than 250,000 people dead Like this, say the Russians,

with small steps, On a Russian military plane,

we are taken to the Syrian capital As we approach central Damascus,

we see destruction, but no fighting. Today, the UN said the cessation

of hostilities in Syria Success, it said,

was not guaranteed. Syria says that Europe should be

praying for peace here. If it fails, maybe there will be

more refugees and more terrorists And they may bomb here and there,

in Europe, as happened We are brought to the

district of Al-Tall. "God protect the Syrian army",

they chant, as soon as we get out This town, too, has signed

a declaration of peace You cannot have reconciliation

without trust. And there are still many in Syria

who don't trust the government enough to believe this war

is about to end. A brief look at some

of the day's other news stories: A man who raped five women he met

through the dating website match.com has been sentenced to life

in prison, with a minimum term Jason Lawrance, who's 50

and from Liphook in Hampshire, was also convicted of a series

of assaults and attempted rapes. The South African athlete

Oscar Pistorius has been denied the right to appeal against his

conviction for the murder He's been on bail since December,

when judges overturned his earlier conviction on the lesser charge

of culpable homicide. Two women who attacked a police

station in Istanbul with guns and a grenade have been

shot dead by police. After fleeing the scene

of the attack in Bayrampasa, the women hid in a nearby building

before they were found. Two policemen are reported

to have been injured. Sunderland's manager, Sam Allardyce,

has defended the decision to keep selecting Adam Johnson

while the player was awaiting trial He was found guilty yesterday of one

charge of sexual activity The lead investigator has told

the BBC that she met the club's executives and outlined

the case against the player Sunderland have strongly denied

they knew he was going to plead Our correspondent Ed Thomas

is outside the ground tonight. Mr Johnson, you've never apologised

to this 15-year-old girl. Who knew Adam Johnson had

groomed and kissed a child? In court, the footballer said

he told Sunderland everything. Today, it was left to Sunderland's

manager to answer the questions. You played Adam Johnson,

week after week, specifically, Were you aware he had

admitted kissing a child? No, I was aware of his plea

for all charges to be not guilty. When the - or just before the trial

started, to hear that he had pleaded guilty was a massive

shock to everybody. Which, the football club took

swift and direct action After his arrest, Adam Johnson

was suspended by Sunderland. After he was charged, a month later,

he was allowed to continue to play. He went on to take 28 more

appearances, collecting ?60,000 a week. Adam Johnson knew that his

victim adored him. He sent hundreds of messages to the child. He told

police he knew that she was only 15. That was the 2nd of March...

Speaking exclusively to BBC News, the detective who led the

investigation into Adam Johnson has revealed details of her first

meeting with Sunderland Football Club. At that point, he was under

arrest for sexual activity with a child and that is what was disclosed

to the club. They were given a little more detail in terms of he

had met the girl and there had been sexual activity taking place. At the

time, broadly, was it known that Adam Johnson had met the girl and

kissed her? At that point, yes. Broadly speaking, again, was it

known at the time that the pair were sending messages to each other? That

was known. At the centre of this, we have a 15-year-old girl, at that

time, a massive Sunderland fan and a fan of Adam Johnson. Describes him

as her idol. She will want to know why he was allowed on the pitch. Who

knew what? Campaigners want answers. If they heard from Johnson that he

had behaved inappropriately, it gives another strong message to say,

why was he not continually suspended until such time that the matters

were concluded? There are now calls for an investigation. Sunderland

Football Club say if they had known Johnson's guilt they would have

sacked him on the spot. Delegates from every region of China

are gathering in the capital, Beijing, for the 10-day annual

session of the National People's Congress, the body which debates

and approves government policy. High on the agenda is the state

of the Chinese economy. Gross domestic product was expanding

by over 14% in 2007. But that growth rate has now

halved to just under 7%. China is now expecting to lay off

1.8 million workers to cut overcapacity in the coal

and steel industries - Our world affairs editor

John Simpson sent this It's got the look of

a place in trouble. Buildings are empty, businesses

going under, confidence dropping. True, China's growth rate

is still far higher than Western But the American ratings agency

Moody's has downgraded its outlook Leading economists here

are unmistakably worried. The real economy is

suffering big time. If anything, I would say 2016

is the most critical year for the Chinese economy in the past,

at least, one decade or so. If things were to go wrong here,

there is always the fear The Chinese leadership

is taking steps to make sure It's extraordinary how fast

the mood here has changed. Until quite recently,

people here were optimistic about the way things

were going in China. Now, some are getting really worried

that their government is lurching towards

authoritarianism. They are even saying

it is like a return to the old days In times of stress, Mao believed

you've got to get a tighter grip The other day, President Xi Jinping

duly went the rounds of the press and broadcasters,

telling them, even from the newsreader's chair,

that they had to toe the party line. We listen to the party's

orders, the placards read. Yet Mr Xi does seem

quite thin-skinned. In Hong Kong, five book-sellers

who stocked some pretty lurid stuff about the love life of the Chinese

leader, vanished last October. Earlier this week, Chinese TV showed

four confessing abjectly Should we be worried

about China's new authoritarianism? TRANSLATION: China needs a stronger

government that can take strong measures to push reform

and development effectively. It might look from outside

that our top leadership has become more aggressive, but this

aggressiveness is not But with security tight

in Beijing at the moment, one of the dwindling group

of critics of the government here thinks it all means

President Xi Jinping TRANSLATION: I think the leader now

has a real feel of crisis. He is worried that the rule

of the Communist Party will be lost in his hands and that he could be

replaced by his rivals. So, he has to hold

on to power tightly. He is like a man floundering

in water and is going to grab Are you worried that you might get

into trouble for saying the things TRANSLATION: The fact that I can

talk like this is highly unusual. I don't know how much longer

I'll be able to do it. Xi Jinping remains

massively popular. People are very proud

of China's achievements. And yet, the way he is clamping down

doesn't seem like confidence. Donald Trump, the current

frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination,

has faced an unprecedented verbal onslaught from some

of the party's biggest names. Mitt Romney, the Republican

candidate last time, described Mr Trump as a phoney

and a fraud who threatened America's prospects for a safe

and a prosperous future. John McCain - another former

presidential candidate - was equally forthright

in his criticism. Let's join our North America editor

Jon Sopel in Washington. Until last June, this is what Donald

Trump was most famous for, building his hotels, like this one under

construction in Pennsylvania Avenue. It is clear that the Republican high

command would like nothing more than for him to go back to concentrating

on that rather than politics. Instead of building things, Donald

Trump seems to be caring the Republican party apart. Today, an

astonishing series of attacks on him and his personality.

Four years ago he was the Republican candidate for President.

Today, Mitt Romney was doing his best to destroy Donald Trump's bid

And, in keeping with this election cycle, there was nothing coded.

This was a full frontal, all guns blazing, no-holds-barred assault.

His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.

He's playing the members of the American public for suckers.

He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get

Think of Donald Trump's personal qualities.

The bullying, the greed, the showing off, the misogyny,

Back in 2012, Mitt Romney was happy to accept Donald Trump's endorsement

Mitt is tough, he's smart, he's sharp.

He's not going to allow bad things to continue to happen to this

Back to today and it's hard to believe that Mr Trump

and Mr Romney will be exchanging Christmas cards.

I backed him - you can see how loyal he is -

I could have said, "Mitt, drop to your knees."

Donald Trump talks tough about China and Mexico...

These anti-Trump TV ads aren't from the Democratic party, they have

They are running extensively in Ohio and Florida.

These two states hold their primaries in 12 days' time

and are seen as the last chance to stop Donald Trump's relentless

Jon Sopel, BBC News, Washington.

Muhammad Ali is, for many around the world, the greatest sportsman

of all time - a man who rose from humble beginnings to becoming

the three times heavyweight champion of the world.

A major new exhibition at the O2 in London is devoted

to his remarkable life and achievements and,

as our arts editor Will Gompertz reports, it tells a story that

reaches way beyond the boxing record books.

He gets in my way, I'll confuse him with the shuffle!

My comeback will shake the whole earth.

- the Parkinson's disease which has rendered him to poorly to travel.

But the Muhammad Ali Show goes on, in the shape

This is the robe, Muhammad had a huge affection for Elvis Presley.

Evidently, Elvis had a huge affection for Muhammad.

He presented him this robe in Las Vegas.

He gave it to him, all bejewelled, and he had it specially

There's replica belts and photos aplenty, and the famous torn glove

Muhammad is a symbol of hope and inspiration,

and not just to African-Americans, to all people.

It was his special duty, he felt, to take his celebrity and try to use

it for the betterment of those that could not lift themselves up,

It is as much for the public stands he has taken,

as it is for his remarkable achievements in the ring,

that prompted a contemporary British heavyweight to start a campaign

for Muhammad Ali to be awarded an honorary knighthood.

Ali is the greatest in his field, as a boxer, as a man

I don't believe there is any other sportsmen who is on his level,

What he believed in, what he done inside of his sport

and outside of it, the amount of people he touched around

the world, the amount of people that he's inspired.

I always asked my mother, I said,

"Mother, how come is everything white?"

I said, "Why is Jesus white, with blonde hair and blue eyes?"

I said, "Mother, when we die, do we go to heaven?"

She said, "Naturally we go to heaven."

I said, "Well what happened to all the black angels

What would it mean to him to be given a knighthood?

Muhammad Ali has transcended his sport to become a cultural icon,

as famous for his oratory as he was for his glove work.

He is a man who always likes to have the last word.

I'm going to eat some raw meat, going to train, I'm going to get

Our arts editor Will Gompertz reporting.

Is George Osborne about to raid the tax relief on your pension

contributions? Join me now on BBC Two, 11pm