18/03/2014 BBC News at One

Russia," and says it must be again. In a much-anticipated speech -

monitored around the World - he warned the West to stop the

hysteria, and end the rhetoric of the Cold War. To a standing ovation,

he said he had no intention of breaking up Ukraine - and then

signed a treaty formalising Crimea's absorption into Russia. We'll be

live with our correspondents in Moscow and in Crimea. Also this

lunchtime: The search for missing flight 370 - now China says it will

intensify the search in its territory - and on land.

The Government plan to give families where both parents work a tax-free

childcare allowance worth up to ?2,000 per child.

The phone-hacking trial is told that former editor Andy Coulson agreed to

pay ?500 a month to hack the phones of members of the Royal Household.

Team GB's record-breaking Paralympic team have been to Downing Street for

a reception to celebrate their achievements.

Later: Boris Johnson's Father calls for rules that hinder the mayor from

running for the Tory party leadership to be scrapped. And anger

over plans to lower the speed limit on parts of the three.

Good afternoon and welcome to the BBC News At One.

President Vladimir Putin has told a special session of Russia's

parliament that "in people's heart of hearts, Crimea has always been

part of Russia" and that Moscow was determined to right what he called a

"historical injustice". Speaking at the Kremlin, Mr Putin also signed

new treaties paving the way for Crimea to join the Russian

Federation - but said he did not want to break up Ukraine further.

The EU and US have declared the action illegal and imposed

sanctions. Ben Brown is in Simferopol for us now.

Yes, they are already changing the name plate on the Crimean parliament

behind me and after President Putin sign that treaty in Moscow. There

were cheers as they heard he +, many Russians here delighted he has moved

so quickly. The golden splendour of the Saint

George Hall in the Kremlin. From here, the president hopes to rebuild

Russia's former glory. He sees reabsorbing Crimea is a fundamental

step. TRANSLATION: In the heart of the people, Crimea has always been

an inalienable part of Russia. This conviction was unshakeable and was

transferred from generation to generation. Mr Putin made a scathing

attack on Western foreign policy and said sanctions were irresponsible.

He promised Russia would protect minorities in Crimea and had a

message for Ukrainians. In no way do we want to damage you or insult your

national feelings. We have always respected the territorial integrity

of the Ukrainian state, unlike those who brought the integrity into

disrepute. There is overwhelming public support and be speed is

breathtaking. Mr Putin then signed the treaty making Crimea part of

Russia. By the end of the week it will be signed and ratified by

parliament. Ukraine is still nervous of more Russian advances and

thousands of reservists are being trained. It accuses Moscow of

provoking unrest in the East but the government is also trying to ease

the tension. TRANSLATION: Despite Russia's armed aggression against

the Ukraine I will be doing everything possible to uphold

peace. The question of joining NATO is not on the agenda. Ukraine's

neighbour Poland is part of NATO and as such is now enjoying the firm

support of the US. The vice president has a right to reassure

allies across Eastern Europe. More Ukrainian tanks are heading towards

the border. In spite of Russian promises not to split the country,

Ukraine is taking no chances. Let's go straight to our

correspondent in Moscow. A defiant, passionate speech by the President

bad. The sanctions announced against Russia by the West don't seem too

bothered him one bit. Quite the opposite, the reaction to the

sanctions has been dismissive. There was a statement from the Russian

parliament today saying, basically, bring it on. Why don't you impose

sanctions on every single member of the Russian parliament? Essentially

saying, we don't care, they have no impact. The Russian Foreign Ministry

today has issued its own statement saying there will be retaliatory

sanctions, so Russia intends to hit back at every stage of sanctions

being imposed by either the US or the European Union. Richard, many

thanks. Two questions after President Putin sign this treaty.

Did the West tried to impose more sanctions and punishing further?

What can Ukraine do to stop itself losing this huge tank of territory?

The answer seems to be absolutely nothing.

China has started to search its own territory for Malaysia Airlines

flight MH370, which went missing more than ten days ago. Efforts to

find the aircraft are focusing on two vast air corridors north and

south of the plane's last known location, and include searching on

land. China said no evidence of terror links had been found in any

of the Chinese passengers. Our correspondent Jonah Fisher is in

Kuala Lumpur. It has been a day of some confusion

and considerable frustration from the families on board the flight

towards this Malaysia and led investigation. At the same time, the

search operation in the southern Indian Ocean is continuing to gather

pace, with aircraft from across the region being deployed there. My

report does contain some flash photography.

They are looking for the remains of an aircraft across an area the size

of Australia. This is an American plane scouring the southern Indian

Ocean for any sign of the Malaysia Airlines flight. So far, despite a

huge effort involving 26 countries, they have found absolutely nothing.

Back where the plane's faithful journey began, questions continue to

be asked about what happened on board. On Saturday, when Malaysia's

Prime Minister announced someone had diverted the plane, he said two

different communication systems on board had shut down in sequence 14

minutes apart. It appeared to suggest a clear human hand. Now,

investigators say both could have failed at the same time, making

mechanical failure once again a possibility. I would say there could

be some form of electrical faults which caused sudden incapacitation,

meaning the pilots may have had partial control of their functions.

This may explain some erratic movement. Do you think it is likely?

At this stage, given the information we are receiving, anything can

happen. At a press conference today, the Malaysians admitted changing

their story but say the movements of the plane were consistent with

someone being in charge. It is this sort of confusion with the fact that

so infuriates the families of those on board the plane. Many see this

investigation is being slow, and at times downright misleading. In

China, the families of those on board once again vented their

frustration at airline officials. Some have threatened to go on hunger

strike, demanding they be told the truth. There's been really no

indication that this Malaysia and investigation is making any

progress, but if they are determined and sure that someone on board

diverted the aircraft, they must have planned it on the ground and

the onus is on them to try to find out who it was.

Our correspondent is in Beijing. 153 passengers on board the plane are of

Chinese origin and relatives are getting very angry, we saw in that

report. Yes, those pictures were from the

briefing given to date, this morning, Beijing time, to those many

relatives gathered at a hotel. It is a sign of their increasing

frustration with the lack of any definite news. They are getting very

upset, very confused, and that is where we saw those calls from a

couple of the passengers, saying, we are prepared to go on hunger strike.

It is a sign of how difficult they are finding this whole process. It

is not only Chinese passengers, there were 150 of them, but others

as well, including one American National. We've just been speaking

to his partner, she lives in Beijing as well. Her name is Sarah and she

believes that because of those indications that somebody was in

control of the aeroplane that it has landed somewhere and that Philip

will be found. I believe Philip is still alive, I feel his presence

still. I hope that he comes back. I don't believe he is dead. I'm

planning on him coming back. I can't control that at this point. Except

with as much wishing, hoping and praying as I can possibly do,

mustering those same positive energies of other people all around

the world. I do think there is substance to people all pushing

their energy in one direction positively. Those hopes I think I

shared by all those families. The news that China is now using

satellites to scour its own territory gives them something else

just to cling onto. And you can see more on the search

for flight MH370 on the bbc news website - that's bbc.co.uk/news.

Parents are to be given up to ?2,000 a year per child under revised plans

to ease the cost of their care. The online scheme, affecting children up

to the age of 12, is to be widened to include families with both

parents in work, but won't start until after the next election.

Labour says it's "too little, too late." Our political correspondent

Ben Wright reports. Playgrounds will see a lot of

politicians from now until the election. The high cost of childcare

is hot politics and both parts of the coalition want credit for this

scheme. Tax free childcare up to ?2000 a year for working parents, a

package being brought in quicker than planned. I want to give

families greater stability, greater security. Obviously, having ?2000

worth of tax relief per child will be a big help. The tax relief is

available to parents who both work. Each can be earning up to ?150,000 a

year. The government will contribute up to 20% of childcare costs up to a

maximum cost of ?10,000 per child. Parents who are working should be

rewarded some contribution to childcare costs. It is more than our

mortgage. We were debating whether we could afford to put him in, can I

afford to work more? A full-time place in a nursery like this can

cost ?10,000 a year, a price that puts many parents of going back to

work. This scheme is designed to help them. It is also a pitch to

hire only voters who are feeling the squeeze and who lost out on the

recent cut to child benefit. Labour said there should be more helpful

parents now, not after the election. Labour has promised an extra ten

hours of childcare for three and four-year-olds. We think putting the

money into the supply side, so you have more children entitled to free

childcare, is a better way to spend the money. This announcement lines

up Budget day tomorrow. A moment for ministers to show they understand

concerns about the cost of living. At the phone hacking trial, the

former Royal Editor of the News of the World, Clive Goodman, has told

the Old Bailey that the tabloid's former editor, Andy Coulson, agreed

to make payments of ?500 a month which resulted in the hacking of

three mobile phones in the royal household. Mr Goodman said Mr

Coulson was aware that the hacker, Glenn Mulcaire, had offered to

"monitor" the phones, which belonged to aides to Prince Charles, Prince

William and Prince Harry. Tom Symonds reports from the Old Bailey.

Who knew what and when? The questions so often at the centre of

this trial. Today, defendant Clive Goodman claimed Andy Coulson knew

about phone hacking and knew about it in October 2005. That is more

than a year before Mr Goodman went to prison for phone hacking. Andy

Coulson resigned as editor of the paper. He has always denied knowing

about the hacking which went on during his time running the paper.

In 2005, his journalists wanted stories about the Princes. Hacker

Glenn Mulcaire began to target their inner circle. This man was their

private secretary. His phone was hacked. Clive Goodman said yet no

budget of his own, so he went to Andy Coulson and asked for

authorisation to pay ?500 a week to Glenn Mulcaire to monitor the Royal

bones. He said the editor agreed to a two-month trial.

One claimed that Prince Harry, then at Sandhurst, asked for help with

his home work, the siege on the reigning embassy, and left a

message. Tom Symons, BBC News. A report in the Daily Telegraph

claims they've seen documents which appear to show that Jack Warner, a

former vice president of football's world governing body FIFA, together

with his family, were paid more than ?1 million by a company owned by an

ex-football official from Qatar. Some payments were allegedly made

shortly after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup. Our sports

correspondent Richard Conway is in Salford. What is at the heart of

these allegationsques-mac the Telegraph claims they have seen

documents which appear to show that Jack Warner was paid ?720,000 by a

company owned by Muhammad and him arm. He was a Qatari at the time, a

powerful FIFA executive. It also alleges that he made payments to one

of Jack Warner's sons and one of his employees. The timing was

significant, because it was after the time when the World Cup was

awarded to Qatar. It should be said that he was not a part of the World

Cup bidding team. These new claims are likely to attract the attention

of Michael Garcia, FIFA's ethics investigator. He is currently

touring the globe talking to all those people involved in the bidding

process for both the 2022 process and the 2018 process which ended up

going to Russia. In a statement, Qatar have denied that they did not

abide by the bidding regulations, and say that they know nothing of

these allegations put before them. We have also contacted Mr Warner,

and he has not responded to our requests.

It is just after 1.15. Vladimir Putin tells Russia that in the

People's heart of hearts, Crimea has always been part of Russia, and says

it must be a game. And still to come, why Sainsbury's reports its

first fall in sales for nine years. Later on BBC London: Berkshire

residents plagued by sewage problems call for the boss of Thames Water to

forgo his bonus. And an appeal for more volunteers for medical trials,

and a promise more cures will be found more quickly as a result.

Six months from today, the people of Scotland will vote on independence.

And for the first time in a major poll, 16 and 17-year-olds will also

have a say. The BBC has been following 50 teenagers for a project

called Generation 2014 as they consider how to cast their votes.

Gavin Esler has been meeting some of the people involved, and he's in

Glasgow for us now. Clydebank, famous for generations.

The ships made here sailed the world. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth,

HMS Hood. Then the heavy industries closed, something for which Mrs

Thatcher has not been forgiven. A time which was once solid Labour

started to think about solid nationalism. I was born in Glasgow

and spent the first few weeks of my life here in a council house with my

mother, father, 2-macro auntie is and my grandmother. It is areas like

this upon which the tyre future of Scotland will depend. In fact, the

future of the United Kingdom. I called on my grandmothers

neighbours. They definitely want independence. I feel very strongly

about separation. Most of the people I speak to have come out in the same

mind as myself. Most of them because of what happened under Thatcher.

Closing all the shipyards. The only thing that worries me is about the

pound, how it would go. We have spoken about Northern Ireland

changing to the euro, and the troubles they have been through. We

wouldn't like that to happen here. 15-year-old Jamie Archer will cast

his first ever vote in September. He is undecided, but excited. It will

be quite exciting for my very first vote to be deciding on the

independence of Scotland. Have you made up your mind yet? I am still

undecided, but I am leaning more towards a yes. What would make up

your mind? From what I hear, the staying together only giving

arguments as to why we shouldn't become independent, and not why we

should stay together. No Scots have taken this decision for 300 years,

but whether yes or no could bring real life back to the shipyards of

Clydeside is another question. The Rolling Stones have cancelled

the first date of their tour of Australia and New Zealand following

the death of Sir Mick Jagger's long-time partner, the fashion

designer L'Wren Scott. The 49-year-old former model was found

dead at her apartment in New York yesterday. She's believed to have

killed herself. Phil Mercer reports. Spirits were high when the Rolling

Stones touchdown in Perth in their private jet. After a gap of eight

years, the veteran band was back in Australia for a sell-out tour. Mick

Jagger headed to the beach. But within 24 hours, he was to receive

devastating news from the United States. In Manhattan, his partner of

more than a decade, L'Wren Scott, was found dead in her apartment from

an apparent suicide. New York police say an investigation into the

celebrated designer's death is continuing. She was a stylist to

some of the biggest names in Hollywood. L'Wren Scott had been by

Mick Jagger's side for 13 years. He was immensely proud of her

glittering career. I feel like London is such an important city,

and has important international shopping. She cancelled a recent

show in London because of production delays, although friends suggest she

pulled out because she was heavily in debt. Mick Jagger is reportedly

heading to New York, while fans in Australia wonder if the Stones'

concert in Perth will be arranged -- rearranged. There are a lot of fans

here just as much as around the world who want to see them. You have

to put things into perspective, and this is just a party. They are going

through a loss. Before arriving in Australia, the

Rolling Stones had conquered Asia, playing to huge audiences in Tokyo.

After 15 years, the band retains a magnetic appeal to thousands of

people around the world. A decision on the remaining dates in Australia

and New Zealand is expected soon. Sainsbury's has reported its first

fall in sales for nine years, fuelling speculation that a

supermarket price war is on the way. Sales were down more than 3% in the

last ten weeks. The outgoing chief executive, Justin King, said the

figures were disappointing but suffered from being compared to a

strong period last year. Simon Gompertz reports. Price scares, the

recession, Sainsbury's has weathered it all. Justin King was praised for

fighting back against the mighty Tesco, but this year, he is

leaving. Could he be leaving it in the lurch? I have been an industry

30 years, and it has never felt easy we have had the rise of convenience

stores, the rise of the Internet. Four. The tales tell the tale. Total

sales were down 10% in the last ten weeks. There were more than 3% lower

sales in stores. But the market share at 17% has held up. This is

what is eating into grocery sales. No frills discounters like Aldi and

Lidl preventing the big supermarkets from adding to their sales as the

economy picks up. Unlike in previous down turns, shoppers have gone to

Aldi and middle but this time are staying there. They are losing

shopping trips and market share. Sainsbury's says its convenience

store business has grown fast, and defending an acquisition could

becoming critically costly in terms of discounts and profits lost.

Morrisons has already said it will cut prices to win back customers, so

lean times are ahead for the big supermarkets, but pain for them

should make the family shopping basket cheaper.

Plans to stop giving criminal records to people who fail to buy a

TV licence have got the backing of almost a MPs, and are considered

whether Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. The BBC says making

nonpayment of the licence fee a civil matter could lead to high

innovation and services being cut. New details about the mass shredding

of documents relating to a corruption inquiry in the

Metropolitan Police have been uncovered by BBC News. The

destruction of the files was highlighted in a review into the

murder of Stephen Lawrence. Scotland Yard says it's trying to find out

exactly what happened to the documents. One source has claimed a

lorry load of papers, photographs and videos were destroyed. Our home

affairs correspondent June Kelly is outside Scotland Yard.

Mark Ellison, the senior barrister who carried out the review into the

Stephen Lawrence case, criticised Scotland Yard for not passing on

information. The enquiry took place in 1998. The information he was

talking about was intelligence the yard had on a detective in the

Stephen Lawrence murder squad who it said may have acted corruptly. When

Mark Ellison began to look at all of this, what he discovered was that in

2003, they hid been a mass shredding of material. This included

documents, videos, photographs, and we have been told lorry load of

stuff was destroyed, and the shredding went on over two days. The

big question is why, and the Met said our investigating. One senior

officer described this material is gold dust. One computer hard drive

has been recovered, but it seems that much of the gold dust has

disappeared. Team GB's Winter Paralympic team

have been to Downing Street this morning to meet the Prime Minister.

The team created history, winning their first gold at the Games, and

came away with six medals from Sochi. Our correspondent Katherine

Downes has been to meet them. The report contains some flash

photography. A couple of hours sleep, a whirl of

breakfast TV appearances, and now an audience with the Prime Minister.

Another chance to show off Paralympic precious metal for the

most successful British team in 30 years. Our last race was on Sunday,

and there is a picture from our last race on a massive banner inside.

Normally that is just where you have a little look on the Internet, but

it is really crazy to think that people are that interested in it,

and this will help our sport and achieve something more than just us

getting into risky race. For Britain's medal winners, success in

Sochi was a culmination of years and months of hard work and a job well

done. It is only now they are back on home soil that they are beginning

to realise the wider impact of what they have achieved.

Paralympics GB finished 10th in the middle table, their highest position

ever, thanks to all of two bronze, three silvers, and Britain's first

Paralympic winter gold. It wasn't just about the success, it was about

the young athletes who went out and smashed an impressive personal

bests. It is about an elite development level, and it is looking

rosy off the back of a very successful Games.

Britain's six medals were won in just two disciplines, alpine skiing

and curling. Now the debate can begin on funding for other

Paralympic disciplines, too, if they want to beat that Hall in four years

time. Time for a look at the weather.

Here's Alex Deakin. Thank you, Simon. There's

Paralympians are coming back to a mild march here. This time a year

ago, we were covered in snow across much of Wales. These pictures were

taken in Powys and across the Brecon Beacons. I just wanted to remind you

that it can be called in March, and we can get snow. But it is going to

get colder here this weekend, and there could be a little snow here

and there. But first let's get back to the current weather, it is more

like April outside. They're Agustien winds blowing and quite a few

showers around. -- gusty winds. Skies will brighten across Wales and

the south-west, but it remain blustery. In northern England and

Scotland, the showers will keep coming. One or two places will keep

the showers drifting across. Head further south, and the showers are

pretty much gone from Wales and south-west England. In the sunshine,

when it returns, temperatures may get up to 13 or 14 Celsius. It feels

a little cooler than that because of the wind, which will still be in

evidence overnight tonight. Showers fade away for most of us, but it

does stay wet in north-west Scotland, where they will keep the

strong winds blowing. And the brisk breeze will keep the temperature is

up. Frost free as we headed to Wednesday. And tomorrow, it looks

like a pretty good day for the majority of central and eastern

Britain. Any western coasts will stay grey and drizzly. And it stays

wet and windy in north-west Scotland. But temperatures could

reach eight June 19 Celsius in the south-east. As we go through

Thursday and Friday, a wet start, and this band of rain will work

across England. It is the first significant band of rain for a

couple of weeks. A mild day in the south-east, but further north it

brightens up, but look at the temperatures. This line of rain will

sweep away the mild air that has been sitting across us, and the blue

is here as we go through Friday and into the weekend, so it is turning

much colder. There will be wintry showers, a bit of snow over the

hills, and it will return to night-time frosts. Spring is

re-coiling. Now a reminder of our top story this

lunchtime. Vladimir Putin tells Russia that in the People's heart of

hearts, Crimea has always been part of Russia, and must