The charges are Conspiracy To Defraud the United States. Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. The former president is due to appear before a federal court on thursday In Washington, dc, as Our Washington correspondent sean dilley explains. Chanting we love trump hes the first president to be charged with a federal crime. But if previous cases are anything to go by, Donald Trumps third indictment is only likely to boost his popularity with Republican Voters. The charges he faces, though, are serious. The 45 Page Indictment accuses the former president of knowingly spreading false claims about Election Fraud to trick and persuade states into helping him overturn the election results. The police are now running back into the capitol building. Hes not been charged with inciting the violent scenes of january 6th, but prosecutors have drawn a link. The attack on our Nations Capital on january 6th, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of american democracy. Its described in the indictment. It was fuelled by lies. Lies by the defendant, targeted at obstructing a Bedrock Function of the Us Government, the nations process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the president ial election. Donald trump responded by posting a Campaign Statement on his social media network, truth social, likening his prosecution to lawless persecution in nazi germany. Shortly after charges were announced, he sent a campaign email, vowing to continue his campaign for the white house. His son, donald trump jr, has questioned the motives and timing. Have we noticed the pattern of whats happening . Have we seen what theyre doing on a daily basis . I mean, my fathers right. Why did they wait two and a half years . You know why . Because hes leading in the polls, because theyre afraid of him becoming president and dismantling the uniparty, dismantling the deep state. Thursdays hearing here In Washington, dc, is all about the crimes mr trump is accused of committing in the two months following the 2020 election. Hes already been charged in two other unrelated cases. Hes due to face trial in new york next march over crimes hes alleged to have committed in relation to payments to a former adult film star. In may, hes set to stand trial in florida over claims he unlawfully held onto military and other classified documents. For now, its all a question of time. In other cases, mr trump has tried to delay until after next years elections, but prosecutors in this case say they want the trial to go ahead as soon as possible. Sean dilley, bbc news In Washington. Live now to our North America correspondent nomia iqbal, whos outside the federal courthouse In Washington dc, where donald trump is due to appear tomorrow. There are two other indictments but nothing on the magnitude of what we saw last night. That is correct, matthew. It does seem like you can become numb to all the legal cases that are piling up against donald trump. But this is probably the single most important indictment ever handed down in the entire history of the United States of america. That is not hyperbole, thatis of america. That is not hyperbole, that is how it is because he is a former president. And also potentially a future president. He is running again of course for the white house and he has been accused of essentially trying to overturn democracy in america. Trying to overturn the election victory ofjoe biden in 2020. The Department Of Justice in this 45 Page Indictment says, look, he had a right to question the election results. We know that president s have done so in the past, candidates have done so in the past, candidates have done so in the past. Donald trump asked for recounts, which he got for example in the state of georgia. But what the department ofjustice is alleging as he went further, it wasnt about his language but about what he did, they say. That he carried out unlawful actions with his allies to try and overturn the election result. That there is a line from that day in November 2020 when he refused to concede the election, write to the day on January The 6th when those riots broke out. But donald trump has dismissed this latest indictment, he has said it is ridiculous, called it a pile on, says its a political witchhunt. The Republican Party and many of the Republican Voters to back him on that. They do believe that this is just the Department Of Justice weaponisation the department in order to go after donald trump. What the rest of the american electorate thinks, because of because even though it feels like we are not too far away from an election, it is still a long time to 90, election, it is still a long time to go, anything could happen. What the rest of the american electorate thinks about this and these piling cases and there could be a fourth indictment, we have yet to see. Nomia iqbal, thank you. To discuss more, i am joined from washington by former congressman joe walsh. Former republican congressman. Welcome to the programme. Your assessment in terms of the magnitude of this moment for the us . Look, this is, and the world needs to hear this, this is what america looks like when one of its two, when the leader of one of its two Major Political parties as a criminal. Legally, donald trump is on a heck of a lot of trouble. He will be indicted again in a couple of weeks down in georgia, but politically, this will secure the Republican Party nomination for him and hes got a very good chance of becoming president again. So where does that leave the us . It leaves the us dangerously divided. It leaves the us on a very bumpy, ugly, violent road and i have said this often there are a lot of people, myself included, who dont know, who worry about whether america can stay unified. Can all 50 states Stay Together . I think that is very much in doubt. Trump didnt start that, hesjust is very much in doubt. Trump didnt start that, hes just an ugly consequence of it. You really think that is a possibility, you really think it is a possibility, some sort of split . 0h, absolutely. We have not been this divided as a country cents just before the civil war. I mean that. I have said that before trump even came on the scene. Trump is just an ugly consequence of how divided we are. I hope that doesnt happen but thatis are. I hope that doesnt happen but that is where we are right now. I mean, all the evidence, Nomia Iqbal Our correspondence was intimating, all the evidence suggests is making no dent at all on his support. The bbc did a recent saying 61 of Republican Voters said the indictments didnt change how they viewed the former president. 14 said that it made them see him positively. Why do you think the numbers like that and it doesnt impact the needle in terms of where republicans are . On the contrary, i think this 0n the contrary, i think this indictment is actually, you are right, strengthening donald trump. He is the deal. Donald trump, and remember, 80 something percent of Republican Voters in this country right now dont believejoe biden won fair and square. They believe trump won in 2020. Donald trump is convinced his voters that the government deep state is after him, that he is a victim. They believe that he is a victim. They believe that and every new charge and every new indictment only strengthens that narrative with them. That is why his support is strengthening and i dont think It Isjust Support is strengthening and i dont think it is just with his hard core base. In terms of what we are likely to see over the next month to a year, the prosecutor is talking, special counsel talking about a speedy trial. What are you anticipating in terms of how all of that fits into the political timeline, with the republican nomination, the potential General Election . I actually think most legal experts in america dont believe any of these trials will take place or be concluded until after the election. So that means the Republican Party will in all likelihood have a four times indicted nominee. But again, politically, he is running against joe biden and the democrats, they have their own weaknesses and issues and the latest polling in this country right now shows it to be a trump biden match up 50 50, because most republicans, almost all republicans, have no problem with these indictments. Just a final question in terms of tactics. For republicans, and i recognise it as a minority, but you are in that minority, for those that dont want trump nor the democrats also dont want trump, what is the best tactics to try to challenge and combat all of this . They have been allowing the judicial process to play its course without too much of their pile on, is that dangerous in terms of leaving a vacuum to allow trump to set the agenda, the narrative . Yes, they have to ignore the legal stuff. Thejustice yes, they have to ignore the legal stuff. The Justice System yes, they have to ignore the legal stuff. TheJustice System in yes, they have to ignore the legal stuff. The Justice System in our country is independent. Here is what i know. I know there are more of us in this country who oppose donald trump than support him. And this is again one of those moments where a conservative like me is going to lock arms with democrats because our only move right now is to defeat them at the polls. We all have to get out and vote. Conservatives, independents and liberals for the democratic nominee, which will be joe biden, if we want to defeat donald trump. That has to be our focus. That is astonishing advice coming from a former republican congressman. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us on bbc news. More on that story a little later. Lets turn to another important story. Lets turn to niger where nigeria has cut off electricity to the country, following last weeks coup. It comes as a delegation from the west Africa Regional bloc, ecowas, are in niger to discuss the crisis. Some countries in the region have come to the defence of the new leadership, including burkina faso, mali, and guinea declaring that any Military Invention in the country would be considered a declaration of war. Over the past 2a hours, European Nations have begun Evacuating Hundreds of citizens from the country. The first of three french planes arrived back in paris with more than 250 people on board. Italy has also flown out dozens of its own nationals as well as other europeans and american citizens. 0ur correspondent in nairobi, catherine byaruhanga, is following all the developments. We started to get information from residents in niamey and in other parts of niger saying that they were experiencing power blackouts. This is quite rare for people there at the moment, and they were talking about having powerfor maybe an hour, then it would be blackout for four hours. And then eventually, the countrys electricity company, National Electricity company, said they believe that this is as a result of sanctions from neighbouring nigeria. So what nigeria has done is that, we understand, according to nigerian authorities, is that because of sanctions following the coup, they are cutting off Power Supplies to its neighbour there in niger. But this is obviously part of what were seeing is a multipronged effort by neighbouring countries trying to get to grips with the situation there in niamey and in niger following the coup. Theyre sending Mediation Teams there, but theyre also threatening force and now enforcing sanctions. In terms of that delegation, is there any word seeping out about whether any progress is being made . Its stilljust a short while since they arrived in niamey. Remember that ecowas has been trying to speak to the military leaders over the past week. Theyve been trying to speak some about handing power back to the former president. We understand that this is quite a senior delegation. So on the team is a former Military Ruler of niger. Hes called general abdulsalami abubakar. Theres also a key religious leader in the region, the sultan of sokoto. So you have a military man maybe who can speak to the new coup leaders, soldier to soldier. You also have a key religious leader there to reinforce the fact that nigers neighbours are concerned about these developments. Theyre concerned about the possible destabilisation of the region, and theyre calling for them to return to a democracy and reinstate the civilian leader. And briefly, catherine, what is the latest in terms of further Evacuations Numbers . So what weve seen over the course of the day is that there were more than 260 people who were flown from niger to france on a French Military aircraft. So it wasntjust french nationals on board that aircraft. You also had other europeans, portuguese. Then there was an italian flight that landed in rome, and you had most italians, but you also had americans, a british national, and also some africans that were on board that flight. Spain is also expected to carry out its own flights. The uk, for example, hasnt announced an evacuation yet, but its calling on its citizens who want to leave niger to register with authorities. The us has also said right now it doesnt see the need to carry out a Mass Evacuation similar to what European Countries are doing. We will keep an eye on that story, its moving all the time. Around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news. Let 5 get some of the day 5 other news now. Cold calling to other Financial Services or products could be banned under new government plans. The economy is cost about £750 million every year by the scams. The government will also outlaw so called sim farms, used by criminals to send thousands of spam texts at once. The Prime Minister has said Nadine Dorries constituents are not been properly represented. The former Culture Secretary announced in june she represented. The former Culture Secretary announced injune she was standing down as an mp with immediate effect but she hasnt resigned yet, after a dispute after being denied a peerage. Nadine dorries has not spoken in the House Of Commons sincejune 2022. A court has ruled an american fugitive who fled to scotland after attempting to fake his own death to avoid prosecution can be extradited to the United States. Nicholas rossi is accused of rape in the state of utah. There is no legal barrier to his extradition and a decision will be taken by the scottish government. You are live with bbc news. The stepfather of a io month old little boy has been found guilty of his murder at derby crown court. The Police Say Jacob crouch had suffered a living hell before he was killed by craig crouch in december 2020. The child 5 mother, gemma barton, was cleared of murder and manslaughter but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Phil mackie has more. A smiling, giggling baby but during jacob crouchs short life he endured what was described as a Culture Of Cruelty at the hands of his mother, gemma barton, and stepfather, craig crouch. Can you feel or hear any breathing . Theres nothing. Hes. Hes gone. Hes stone cold and hes gone stiff. This is the 999 call made after they found jacobs lifeless body in his cot, five days after christmas in 2020. They met on a dating site when she was four months pregnant. They were obviously infatuated and quickly moved in together. Crouch was even named as father onjacob� s birth certificate. They pretended to be good parents. Barton said that he was her bundle ofjoy and crouch said he doted on his stepson. But in reality, jacobs life was relentlessly miserable. In text messages, they discussed cruel punishments, they called him a devil and whenever he cried, theyd smack him or send him to bed. This footage from her phone shows crouch joking about whetherjacob had been killed. Everything all right . Mm hm. Its very quiet in there, have you killed him . No. I wouldnt blame you if you had. Youre under arrest. Barton and crouch were arrested on suspicion ofjacob� s murder nearly a week after he died. Im arresting you on suspicion of murder ofjacob, you do not have to say anything. At the time of his death, jacob had 39 rib fractures, i9 visible bruises and a Perforated Bowel Which led to a fatal infection. He was only ten months old. The amount of injuries that he had, the sustained period that they were inflicted over, it would have been completely normal forjacob to have lived in a life of pain. He would have been in pain almost throughout his ten month life. Just, yeah, horrendous levels of injury. Crouch has been found guilty ofjacob� s murder. Barton was cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing her sons death. Neither have explained how or whyjacob died. Phil mackie, bbc news, derby. In the last half an hour or so, the Detective Inspector of derby police gave this statement outside the courthouse. Jacob crouch was born into a Culture Of Cruelty by both of the people he should have been trust above any other allowed him to be subjected to assault after assault. Heartbreakingly, for much ofjacob� s short life, he would have been in significant pain as a result of the serious and repeated assaults. It is clear from the evidence found on gemma barton and craig crouchs phones that they were equally responsible for the cruelty inflicted on babyjacob. As a father, i cannot comprehend what happened Behind Closed Doors and my thoughts remain with jacobs wider family, who have been left devastated by his death. I hope that the verdict today brings with it a degree of closure for them and that it begins the process of then being able to grieve forjacob and remember the happy times with a much loved child. Thousands of Women In Africa will die loved child. Thousands of Women In Africa will die in loved child. Thousands of Women In Africa will die in pregnancy loved child. Thousands of Women In Africa will die in pregnancy and africa will die in pregnancy and childbirth as a result of cuts to the overseas aid budget. Thats the warning from an internal Foreign Office report, which has been made public by mps. The government says its budget for low Income Countries has been cut in the short term to hit a savings target, but will then nearly double. Earlier, i spoke to sarah champion, the chair of the International Development committee and the labour mp for rotherham. She spoke about the impact of cuts to overseas aid on the most Vulnerable People. This document was sent to my committee and it makes for really stark reading. You gave some of the examples. But things like critical support to tackle malnutrition wont be wont be delivered. In south sudan they are estimating 300, 3000 children could die of untreated severe malnutrition. The list goes on and on. This was written by Civil Servants to let the politicians making these decisions really aware of the actual human impact and it is a chilling read. Its something which i feel quite ashamed of, that weve gone ahead with. I will come back to the wider point in a moment but in the way some of these cuts are falling, are you concerned about that as well . 76 cut in aid for afghanistan, for example . That is a really good example. What were seeing is people that are probably poorest, most vulnerable, most marginalised, women and girls and disabled people are actually the ones that are facing the brunt of these cats cuts and they are the people that one would hope the uk government would be looking to support the most because they are the most Vulnerable People on the planet. So the fact Civil Servants were warning these Vulnerable People would be targeted by these cuts and they went ahead anyway, it is difficult. I really feel for the Civil Servants. People get into development because they really care about development. So for them to have to make these cuts are on the ground, it is a tough role they have been put into. Do you accept the need the cuts, the squeeze on budgets across the board, the government pointing to that but also pointing, once we get past this moment, that budgets will be doubled . Well, i accept the argument that the government had made to justify the cuts, which is slightly different from your question. 0ther g7 countires havent cut anywhere as severely as we have and they have had the same financial covid impacts on their economies as we have. So this was a Political Choice and, yes, next year the budgets are going to be slightly better. But bear in mind that the budget overall was cut in 2020 by a third. So the fact we are going up by about 55 and 10 next year doesnt take us anywhere near to the levels that we were supporting people. Isnt part of the problem that a quarter of the budget is being actually used by the home office, in terms of housing refugees in this country and that is taking a big chunk of the budget that otherwise potentially could go abroad . You accept that is part of the equation here, do you . 100 , and it took my committee a lot of argument with a lot of Civil Servants and ministers to get those figures into the Public Domain because thats money being spent by the home office which should be going to the poorest people in the world. Whilst i fully accept and im proud that our country supports refugees coming to our shores, it shouldnt be at the expense of the poorest people in the world. No other g7 country does that, they manage to find the money to do both. Sarah champion. More reaction to that story in the next hour of our programme. Lets return to the story in niger. A very fluid situation there. As well as the evacuations, there. As well as the evacuations, the diplomatic efforts, i want to show you pictures coming from nigeria because west African Defence ministers are meeting there in nigeria to discuss the situation and of course they are looking at the various possibilities as tension is really ratcheting up. Huge regional problem but also implications for the west. So a lot to consider and that meeting of Defence Ministers going on. So when there is word in terms of any outcome, we will return to that. Just time to show you before we take a break, some remarkable footage of the moment are Police Dog Sniffs outi Million Euros in hidden cash. This is elio a Labrador Retriever who works as a police dog for the Italian Police force. 1 i Million Euros found in bags of a chinese national. More here injust a moment. Hello there. This is certainly not the sort of weather wed expect to find across the uk at this time of the year and once again, its all due to another area of low pressure bringing wind and rain. Its been named Storm Patricia By the french met service, with the biggest impacts along the north coast of france, partly due to the super moon and also to the strength of the wind. Its going to be windy through the english channel, the south coast of england, strong to gale force winds. Although the winds tending to ease down late in the afternoon. Were also seeing clusters of heavy and thundery downpours developing in england and wales and the more persistent rain is still affecting yorkshire and north lincolnshire, keeping it particularly cool here. Temperatures are not much better in scotland and Northern Ireland but at least here it is somewhat drier. It should become a lot drier across england and wales as we head into the night. The strong and gusty winds tending to ease down, change direction, the heavier rain and thunderstorms moving away. Some clearer spells developing by the end of the night in places and temperatures probably not dipping away any lower than 11 14 degrees. Storm patricia itself, that area of low pressure, is going to be heading into southern scandinavia on thursday, taking the wet and windy weather away. The Wind Direction Changes for thursday and we get a cool north to north westerly wind. Thats going to bring some showers. A bit of sunshine for a while but the cloud will tend to increase and from the word go, weve got some showers coming into Northern Scotland and showers could develop almost anywhere, i think, on thursday afternoon. Some thunderstorms, mainly across the south east of scotland, North Eastern parts of england. With a bit of shelter, though, temperatures could reach 20 degrees in glasgow and it should be a little bit warmer in east anglia and the south east where were missing most of the showers. But that wont be the case on friday. Across Eastern Parts of england we will see the showers. It wont be as windy but theres the threat of some thunderstorms in the south east. Western parts of the uk are likely to be drier to end the week. But still temperatures only 18 degrees in belfast and 19 in cardiff. So its still cool air that weve got really through the next few days and thats because the jet stream, this strong ribbon of air up in the atmosphere, is running to the south of the uk. Quite a strong jet stream and the position will change by the time we get to saturday. That will pick up another area of low pressure and bring some wet and windy weather to england and wales, a bit like were seeing today. Welcome to bbc news. The headlines. The most serious criminal charges against him so far, donald trump is accused of plotting to overturn the 2020 election results. The stepfather of a ten month old baby boy has been found guilty of his murder in derbyshire. And stargazers across the world were treated to a bigger and Brighterfull Moon Last Night well have the latest pictures. All of that is coming up. Lets round up of the Business News of the day. Nice to see you, im going to start this hour in the United States because there has been a downgrade, markets have opened down a little after the worlds biggest economy was stripped of its top credit rating. The Ratings Agency fitch lowered its rating for the us. It is citing concerns over the state of the countrys debt levels and its stewardship of the economy over the last 20 years. Michelle has the details from new york. Like Many Americans details from new york. Like Many Americans who details from new york. Like Many Americans who have details from new york. Like Many Americans who have credit details from new york. Like many| americans who have Credit Reports details from new york. Like many i americans who have Credit Reports to determine if they can borrow money and how much debt they can take on the Us Government has its own Credit Report and itjust got downgraded for the First Time Since 2011. Fitch lowered its rating from triple a to double a plus. Back in may fitch, one of the three major Ratings Agency, put the Us Government on notice, blaming the stand off over