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 onjanuary 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 trumer, 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. Our north america correspondent is outside the courthouse in washington, dc. Outside the courthouse in washington, dc. Outside the courthouse in washinaton,dc. , washington, dc. Donald trump is kept eve one washington, dc. Donald trump is kept everyone informed washington, dc. Donald trump is kept everyone informed of washington, dc. Donald trump is kept everyone informed of what washington, dc. Donald trump is kept everyone informed of what he washington, dc. Donald trump is kept everyone informed of what he thinks i everyone informed of what he thinks about this indictment, even before it came through and he has called it ridiculous. He said it is a pile on. He repeated his claims that he has done with his previous indictments, that it done with his previous indictments, thatitis done with his previous indictments, that it is a political witchhunt, the Department Ofjustice Being Weaponised by President Biden in order to stop him from running for the white house. Bear in mind, those sorts of claims, of course donald trump and the Republican Party can make on the campaign trail, they do work as we have seen with Republican Voters. But inside the courtroom, when donald trump appears, whether in person or virtually, i will be very surprised if those are the arguments they used to try and defend him over there is 45 Page Indictment. It is very likely that donald trump and his team are going to claim that there has been some sort of misconduct by the prosecution. They have indicated that before. Donald trump has put that before. Donald trump has put that on his Social Network site before. We dont exactly know what specifically they are alleging about misconduct. Also, the other thing to mention, to really point out here is that. Does have to prove criminal intent here. That. Does have to prove criminal intent here. Intent here. Inaudible that donald intent here. Inaudible that donald trump intent here. Inaudible that donald trump knowingly did intent here. Inaudible that donald trump knowingly did what he did. Donald trump could turn around and say i thought i had won the election, i genuinely thought it had been stolen from me, so they have to prove criminal intent. But having said that, out of all the indictment so far, we cannot lose sight of the fact this is the most serious one. This is the Department Ofjustice accusing a former president and one who could be president and one who could be president again of trying to overturn democracy in the united states. ,. ,. , states. Three criminal trials donald trum states. Three criminal trials donald trum to states. Three criminal trials donald trump to be states. Three criminal trials donald trump to be attending states. Three criminal trials donald trump to be attending in states. Three criminal trials donald trump to be attending in the states. Three criminal trials donald trump to be attending in the next | states. Three criminal trials donald l trump to be attending in the next 18 months or so. Every time there is a new one, he gets a massive bump not just in terms of popularity but for funds for his campaign. But what you think could be the cumulative effect of all of these indictments on voters . Voters . It voters . It is important to remember he does get a bump with Republican Voters under primary. He is a clear runner for the partys president ial nomination, the party most of its members and voters do believe in his repeated claims that this is a political witchhunt. How he with the General American electorate we are yet to say because donald trump, if he gets the nomination, cannotjust rely on Republican Voters to get into the white house, he needs the independent voters. The swing voters. A lot of polling was done around the 6th Of January and it found almost half of americans did believe that donald trump had a case to answer, that he was culpable for what happened onjanuary to answer, that he was culpable for what happened on january the to answer, that he was culpable for what happened onjanuary the 6th. As you mention there, you have these three criminal cases that will be played out during the campaign season. There could be a potential fourth indictment coming and then he has two civil cases, so we are looking at six civil and criminal cases playing out over the course of six months right in the heat of the campaign. Of course donald trump will use these to his benefit. He makes it part of his campaign. But how it goes down with the rest of the american electorate, who he needsif the american electorate, who he needs if he wants to get back into the white house, we have yet to see. Nigerian led delegation is in niger to talk with coup leaders who seized power last week. It comes after european nations have Evacuated Hundreds of citizens of the country. Three french planes has arrived in paris with more than 250 people on board. Italy and germany have also flown out dozens of nationals as well. Some countries in the region have come to the new leadership defence, including burkina faso, mali and guinea. They said it would be a declaration of war. It is in the sahara region and a key area for western countries in counterterrorism operations. We can go live there to our correspondence. In terms of this delegation that is in niger today, how delicately do they have to tread, given we have seen neighbouring country saying it is quite inflammatory that they are there . Yes, i think the first thing to note is that this is quite a senior allegation. So the head of this team is a former Military Ruler of niger. Also with him is nigerias most senior muslim leader. It is a Muslim Country so you have the sultan who is part of this delegation and why he is important is because parts of niger where parts of the caliphate in precolonial times. So he yields a lot of cultural, religious power in niger. They have a military man, as well as religious leaders as part of this delegation. I think what they are trying to do is maybe try and turn the tide because ecowas neighbouring countries, are behind events in niger. The Military Leaders there have not been willing to listen to ecowas so far. At the same time, we have defence chiefs from Ecowas Meeting in nigeria talking about possible military plans against the Military Leaders in niger. So this raises the fact that ecowas is probably trying to use a carrot and stick method here. Have talks, have an important delegation go to meet the military in niger but also considering possible intervention. It in niger but also considering possible intervention. Possible intervention. It was remarkable possible intervention. It was remarkable for possible intervention. It was remarkable for many possible intervention. It was remarkable for many people possible intervention. It was i remarkable for many people to possible intervention. It was remarkable for many people to see members of Civil Society walking through the streets, Holding Signs that were supporting president putin. Is it possible to know within niger itself how many people actually back the coup leaders. What we have seen is actually public support, Protest Demonstrations in support, Protest Demonstrations in support of the coup leaders, not only in the capital but in other parts of the country as well. This is really tied in with a sense of frustration and anger, at the Security Situation in niger. The fact you have an Islamist Insurgency in parts of the country but also the economic situation. So what people often say it is, were just hoping that now that the military have taken over, maybe our lives can get better and this is also where russian, possibly propaganda is inserting itself in niger. That is why we are seeing the flags coming up. Some putin posters in the country as well, Notjust Niger but other parts in africa portraying itself as a possible alternative to western allies, saying that if you turn to russia, may be our lives can get better. This is obviously a very simplistic expression of what is happening in peoples lives. It is not necessarily the solution but really maybe russia is now using these moments, when you have Civil Society groups allied to russia who are trying to take part and to take advantage of events on the ground. Thank you. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets ta ke lets take a look at some of the other main stories in the uk this hour. Cold calling to offer Financial Services or products could be banned under new government plans. . The home office says fake scams cost the economy £750 million in the last year. The government will also outlaw so called � sim farms which are used by criminals to send thousands of spam texts at once. The Prime Minister insists he cares about reaching net zero, but he also said the 2050 target needs to be achieved in a proportionate and pragmatic way. Rishi sunak is facing pressure from some conservative mps to review the governments green policies, after the partys surprise win in the uxbridge by election, when it capitalised on anger over londons ultra low emissions zone. The number of people missing payments on essential Household Bills like energy, phone and water is as high as it was over the winter, thats according to Consumer Group which . They estimate that around 2. 4 million households missed at least one bill payment in the month to mid july. Youre live with bbc news. A court has ruled an american fugitive who fled to scotland after attempting to fake his own death to avoid persecution can be extradited to the united states. Nicholas rossi is accused of rape in utah. The sheriff ruled there is no legal barrier to his extradition and the decision will now be taken by Scottish Government ministers. From the start, it seems like a story from a hollywood film script. The american fugitive who faked his own death and hid out in scotland. I am not mr ross seattle. Nicholas i am not mr ross seattle. Nicholas rossi was arrested am not mr ross seattle. Nicholas rossi was arrested in am not mr ross seattle. Nicholas rossi was arrested in december | am not mr ross seattle. Nicholas rossi was arrested in december 2021, when staff on the covid ward at A Glasgow Hospital recognised him from an interpol wanted notice. Prosecutors at utah want to extradite rossi to face rape charges but the man in the wheelchair has consistently claimed it is all a mistake, that he is an irish orphan called arthur knight, who has never been to america. We heard in court you were identified by tatties or scarring. That is not true. I5 identified by tatties or scarring. That is not true. Is it identified by tatties or scarring. That is not true. Identified by tatties or scarring. That is not true. Is it worth seeing our left that is not true. Is it worth seeing your left forearm . That is not true. Is it worth seeing your left forearm . That that is not true. Is it worth seeing your left forearm . That picture i that is not true. Is it worth seeing | your left forearm . That picture had a tattoo on the left forearm. There. I showed you the left forearm just now. Ijust showed you a photo. But could you just. Honestly, now. Ijust showed you a photo. But could youjust. Honestly, im exhausted. Imjust could youjust. Honestly, im exhausted. Im just exhausted. Rest exhausted. Im just exhausted. At his extradition hearing, he denied lying about his background or exaggerating his illness. This morning, the same sheriff who earlier dismissed the claims of mistaken identity ruled he could be returned to america to face charges. I concluded the evidence of the requested pezz is unreliable to the extent requested pezz is unreliable to the extent i requested pezz is unreliable to the extent i would not be prepared to accept extent i would not be prepared to accept any extent i would not be prepared to accept any statement of fact by him unless accept any statement of fact by him unless it accept any statement of fact by him unless it was independently supported. Unless it was independently summed unless it was independently suorted. , unless it was independently suuorted. ,. , supported. Rossi was not in court to hear the ruling. Supported. Rossi was not in court to hear the ruling. When supported. Rossi was not in court to hear the ruling. When he supported. Rossi was not in court to hear the ruling. When he appeared l supported. Rossi was not in court to i hear the ruling. When he appeared by video link earlier in the morning, he sat slumped in his wheelchair with his face hidden. But as his lawyer was addressing the court, he interrupted, shouting at the sheriff, calling him a disgrace to justice. At that point, the sheriffs clark but the video connection. The final decision on his extradition will now be made by scottish ministers. He faces serious allegations in the us. The end of the scottish chapter of this story is a step closer. Saudi arabia is being accused of investing in sports particularly football in an attempt to improve its image on the world stage. Its known as � sportswashing and detractors say the country is buying Star Players From European Leagues to distract from criticism of its human rights record. Saudi arabia has a state owned wealth fund called the Public Investment fund, created to invest on behalf of the countrys government. The pif have assets of nearly 700 billion, and in 2021 it finalised a 415 million purchase of English Premier League Team Newcastle united, effectively making the club one of the richest in the world. The move was described by Amnesty International as a blatant example of saudi sportswashing. Fast forwa rd a year, and Football Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo leaves his english Team Manchester united to sign with the Saudi Club Al Nassr for a reported salary of around £177 million a year thats around 226 million. At the time, it became the highest paying contract in sports history. Since then, saudi clubs have been poaching more and more players and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently lost one of his star players, riyad mahrez, to a team in the Saudi Pro League. He said over the weekend that he expects more players to move there in the future. And its Notjust Football Last year the pif bought 17 of formula one franchise aston martin, and just last month it reportedly agreed to contribute more than A Billion Dollars to a pga tour, liv golf partnership. Sir William Patey is a former uk ambassador to saudi arabia, afghanistan, sudan and iraq he was also chairman of swindon town football club. Hejoins us now. Lovely he joins us now. Lovely to see you. You have quite a unique perspective on the situation but i wanted to ask you firstly whether you agree with Pep Guardiola, do you think the saudis are really posing a genuine threat to things like the Premier League now, will we see more and more players go . I league now, will we see more and more players go . League now, will we see more and more players go . I dont think they are osina more players go . I dont think they are posing a more players go . I dont think they are posing a threat more players go . I dont think they are posing a threat to more players go . I dont think they are posing a threat to the more players go . I dont think they are posing a threat to the premier. Are posing a threat to the Premier League. They do want to build up their own league. They saw the way their own league. They saw the way the Premier League was able to increasingly buy in the best players from around the world and increase its revenues. They are trying to do something similar. I dont think they will rival the Premier League but there will be a lot of players going to saudi arabia. They have changed the rules about the number of foreign players they can have and they will try and increase their tv revenues. ,. ,. ,. , they will try and increase their tv revenues. ,. ,. ,. , revenues. Given allegations of sportswashing. Revenues. Given allegations of sportswashing, what revenues. Given allegations of sportswashing, what do revenues. Given allegations of sportswashing, what do you i revenues. Given allegations of sportswashing, what do you believe the saudi objective is here, what are their tactics . Ii it the saudi objective is here, what are their tactics . Are their tactics . If it is sportswashing, are their tactics . If it is sportswashing, it are their tactics . If it is sportswashing, it spectacularly unsuccessful because we have been talking about saudi human rights records more than ever as a result of their investments in football and in golf and other things. I dont think it is sports washing. I think it is an attempt to improve their engagement in world sport as part of a broader tactic, engagement in world sport as part of a broadertactic, broader engagement in world sport as part of a broader tactic, broader strategy to increase tourism to saudi arabia. It has been trying to diversify away from oil and gas and tourism is one of the sectors that has real potential in saudi arabia. So by increasing the number of visas they give, by increasing their attractiveness of having Sports Events in saudi arabia, their social and Economic Reforms that are taking place are an attempt to diversify their economy. I place are an attempt to diversify their economy. Place are an attempt to diversify their economy. I was in qatar for their economy. I was in qatar for the world their economy. I was in qatar for the world cop their economy. I was in qatar for the world cup and their economy. I was in qatar for the world cup and went their economy. I was in qatar for the world cup and went saudi i their economy. I was in qatar for l the world cup and went saudi beat argentina, there was so much excitement. It was really quite unbelievable. There were also a lot of women there who had driven over to watch the match. Can you give us an idea when you are there of what world sport actually plays there and if you feel it is misunderstood . It used to be very difficult for women to either participate in sport or attend sport but that has been changed over the last 5 10 years as part of a social Reform Programme. For instance, women are now able to drive, so they were able to drive over to qatar. They wouldnt have been able to do that a few years ago. Women. So there is a Reform Programme and women are attending football matches. So there is a Reform Programme going on, not fast enough for people who have got used to more freedoms in the west but it is certainly quite dramatic in terms of saudi arabia. 5ir is certainly quite dramatic in terms of saudi arabia. Of saudi arabia. Sir william, thank ou for of saudi arabia. Sir william, thank you forjoining of saudi arabia. Sir william, thank you forjoining us of saudi arabia. Sir william, thank you forjoining us with of saudi arabia. Sir william, thank you forjoining us with your you forjoining us with your perspectives. Later there will be a special programme on the rise of the Saudi Pro League and Bbc Radio Five Live and bbc sounds. It will be available for listeners on the bbc sounds. Well worth logging on, listening and joining the team later on today. We have some Breaking News to bring you now from niger, which we were talking aboutjust a few minutes ago. We understand that many cities in niger are facing Rolling Blackouts. It follows the coup we had seen in the west african countries and it is because partly nigeria, we understand, has cut electricity. That is according to nigel� s power company. They normally have a regular and powerful supply but we have seen the West African Trading Block Ecowas imposing sanctions on niger over the coup but havent said if this would affect supplies that now we see there are Rolling Blackouts in the country as well. Ecowas defence chiefs right now are in niger to discuss the crisis was that European Countries as well are currently evacuating its citizens from niger. So Breaking News from niger, that nigeria has cut electricity to niger, that is according to their power company. We also have some Breaking News to bring you from here in the uk. That parents of a baby boy who suffered a vicious assault have been convicted of his murder. Jacob crouch was born just weeks before the first Covid Lockdown in 2020. You are seeing here his mother, gemma barton, her partner, stepfather craig crouch. In the months that followed the lockdown, he was subjected, little jacob crouch, to pain and suffering at the hands of his mother, gemma barton and her partner craig crouch. He died in his cot at the family home in derbyshire. So we now understand from the court that those verdicts have been handed down. The stepfather has been found guilty of his murder at the derby crown court. Police saying jacob crouch suffered a living hell before he was killed by craig crouch in december, 2020. The childs mother gemma barton was cleared of murder and manslaughter but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Sentencing will take place on friday. So thatjust coming to us in the last few minutes or so. Ukraine has made deputy Prime Minister said an attack has damaged 40,000 tonnes of grain planned for china, israeland 40,000 tonnes of grain planned for china, israel and countries in africa. The Defence Ministry says the grain silo was damaged in the port in the odesa region. The port, just across from romania, serves as the main Alternative Route out of ukraine for Grain Exports sent russia introduced the blockade of Black Sea Ports Last month. To remind you, romania is a nato member. As ukraine continues to make small gains on various fronts across the east and south of the country its also battling a second, but no less aggressive front line in the form of russian propaganda. While disinformation has been used as a tactic since the war started back in 2014, when moscow annexed crimea, its become increasingly targeted, honing in on Ukrainian Front Line female soldiers particular. Our reporter, Olga Malchevska is covering the story for us. Small steps on the road to recovery. My name is andriana. Im a soldier, servicewoman. A female soldier and a special unit markswoman. Andriana is one of the best known members of Ukrainian Armed forces. Her unit drove over a landmine last december. Russian media reported she had been killed, describing her death in graphic detail and calling her a ukrainian nazi. But we have tracked her down in ukraine, in a hospital. We cant disclose its location for her safety. Shes alive and not surprised by the russian news. They published that i am without legs and without hands. Yes, and then, like, i was killed by them. They are professionals in propaganda. I am alive and i will protect my country. Andriana, like many other ukrainians, joined a Volunteer Battalion when russia invaded ukraine back in 2014. She spent a year with the aidar battalion, which, like many of the others, was subsequently subsumed into the official army. Although not militarily trained, andriana showed strong combat skills, including shooting. When you are on the front line and when you see a target, how do you feel about it . Is it a target or a person . It depends on the situation. Sometimes its a person because they are people. But if it will not be for me a target, i will be a target for them. Its a scenario shared by many in this hospital. Here, there are worries about the costs of rehabilitation. It can cost thousands of dollars a month for each soldier. But for andriana, the biggest concern is the impact on herfamily. She hasnt held her son for seven months. Stay with us. Hello, this is certainly not the sort of weather we would expect to find across the uk at this time of the year and once again, it is all due to another area of low pressure bringing wind and rain. It has been named Storm Patricia By the french met service, with the biggest impact along the north coast of france, partly due to the super moon and the strength of the winter. Winding through the english channel, the south coast of england, strong to gale false wins. Although the wind is tending to ease down late in the afternoon was that we have seen clusters of heavy and thundery downpours developing in england and wales and more persistent rain 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, heavier rain and thunderstorms moving away. Clearer spells developing overnight in some places and temperatures not dipping away any lower than 11 14. Storm patricia itself, the area of low pressure, will be heading into southern scandinavia on thursday, taking the wet and windy weather away. The Wind Direction Changes and we get a cool north to north westerly wind. That will bring some showers. A bit of sunshine for a while but the cloud will tend to increase and from the word go, we have some showers coming into Northern Scotland and showers could develop almost anywhere and thursday afternoon. Some thunderstorms, mainly across the south east of scotland, North Eastern parts of england. With a bit of shelter, temperatures could reach 20 in glasgow and it should be a little bit warmer in east anglia and the south east where we are 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 the threat of some thunderstorms in the threat of some thunderstorms in the south east. Western parts of the uk are likely to be drier to end the week. Still temperatures only 18 degrees in belfast and 19 in cardiff. So still cool ere we have through the next few days and that is 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. It will pick up another area of low pressure and brings in wet and windy weather to england and wales, a bit like we are seeing today. The burden of debt, the Rating Agency fitch lowers its top rating for the us government. It wants its current debt level is too high. And striking a balance between Energy Security and net zero, we will examine the challenge facing governments around the world. Welcome to World Business report. Im ben thompson. We start with a downgrade for the us. The Ratings Agency fitch has lowered its top rating in an unexpected blow to the worlds biggest economy. Fitch cut the us debt rating from triple a to double a plus, citing concerns over the state of the countrys finances and its stewardship of the economy over the last 20 years. The move comes two months after a last minute deal was reached to lift the debt ceiling and avert the countrys first ever debt default. The us treasury secretary janet yellen called the downgrade � arbitrary� and said Economic Conditions had improved under the biden administration. Michelle fleury is in new york for us. The treasury secretary calls it our victory, but as we said there, this spans a period of 20 years or so. Its, spans a period of 20 years or so. Significant is this . I think if you remember thatjust like