a couple of hours ago. he's charged with 3a counts of fraud, relating to hush money allegedly paid to the former adult film star stormy daniels before the 2016 presidential election. he's now in the courthouse itself for the start ofjury selection. prosecutors accuse him, of arranging payments to stormy daniels in an effort to buy her silence. donald trump has pleaded not guiltydescribing the case as a witchhunt. he spoke to the media just before heading into the courtroom. he's been in the courts for around an hour and a half. let's hear what he had to say. something like this has never happened before. there's never been anything like it. every legal scholar said this case is nonsense, it should never have been brought. it doesn't deserve anything like this. there is no case, and they've said it. people that don't necessarily follow or like donald trump said this is an outrage that this case was brought. this is political persecution. this is a persecution like never before. nobody's ever seen anything like it. and, again, it's a case that should have never been brought. it's an assault on america. and that's why i'm very proud to be here. this is an assault on our country, and it's a country that's failing. it's a country that's run by an incompetent man who's very much involved in this case. this is really an attack on a political opponent — that's all it is. so i'm very honored to be here. thank you very much. reporters shout questions. in a moment, i'll be speaking to former federal —— more wild claims by donald trump. in a moment, i'll be speaking to former federal prosecutor renato mariotti, he'sjoining me from chicago but first, we can cross live to nada tawfik, our correspondent outside the courthouse. we have finally reached this moment, just at the scene for us. i am we have finally reached this moment, just at the scene for us.— just at the scene for us. i am here outside the _ just at the scene for us. i am here outside the courthouse _ just at the scene for us. i am here outside the courthouse where - just at the scene for us. i am here| outside the courthouse where they will�*s media is gathered to capture this, a historic moment. we've also seen a steady growing number of protesters both for and against donald trump showing up at the park right outside the courthouse here, a small but very passionate group of people holding up signs, i would say very much resembling something of a mini trump rally. come 2024, for example, a car, truck with a large trump sign also making its way behind me. —— trump 2024 for example. people holding up a large banner and matching by the court and expected to hold a press conference later to talk about their viewpoint. but inside, of the key players are gathered in that courtroom right now as we await that high—stakes process of selecting a jury. donald trump of course himself, photographed at the start of proceedings sitting there with both groups of his attorneys and his campaign spokesperson, is it knew the room as well. also the manhattan district attorney alvin bragg there to watch closely as his team argues this case. of course the stakes are incredibly high for him as well. he was the first district attorney to bring charges against donald trump so, matthew, certainly a historic day here were donald trump becomes the first former president to face criminal trial and it is all kicking off as we speak. just a few factual questions because how long is the jury selection process likely to last? how long is the trial itself due to last? are we expecting donald trump to take to the stand himself?— expecting donald trump to take to the stand himself? yes, well, look, the stand himself? yes, well, look, the 'u the stand himself? yes, well, look, the jury selection _ the stand himself? yes, well, look, the jury selection process _ the stand himself? yes, well, look, the jury selection process could - the jury selection process could take one week or longer and that is because you have literally hundreds of residents of manhattan who have been gathered here and they will be answering a questionnaire which the judge himself said is one of the most extensive questionnaires this court has ever put together running 42 questions long, each of those questions having many subsets to it, trying to get to the heart of what kind of media jury members consume. have they ever attended any trump rallies, are there any supporters of any extremist groups? then the judge has agreed to this dual approach to asking jurors first if they can be impartial or not and whether they have any issues with just a really taking the time over eight weeks out of their personal lives to be sitting on this case and the entire trial itself is expected to last around eight weeks. donald trump in comments before today had said of course he is going to testify and i think it is important to note that in past civil cases, he has testified on the stand but this is a criminal case and the stakes are so much higherfor him if he does testify with it opening him up to questioning that could perhaps hurt him or focus questioning that could perhaps hurt him orfocus on some questioning that could perhaps hurt him or focus on some details that he would rather not be exposed to so i think it will be interesting to see whether in fact despite him saying you will testify if and when the time comes he chooses to do so. mada time comes he chooses to do so. nada tawfik at the — time comes he chooses to do so. nada tawfik at the courthouse, thank you very much. renato mariotti. the first time we've seen a president they are in a criminal case. what do you make of what the moment we have reached? it is quite a moment. — moment we have reached? it is quite a moment. i — moment we have reached? it is quite a moment, i will— moment we have reached? it is quite a moment, i will say— moment we have reached? it is quite a moment, i will say that. _ moment we have reached? it is quite a moment, i will say that. despite i a moment, iwill say that. despite all the controversy surrounding donald trump, at the end of the day, what will matter in this case is the evidence in front of the jury, the testimony of thejury evidence in front of the jury, the testimony of the jury hears and really the arguments that are made by the attorneys so what we just heard a moment ago, the bluster and maybe i would say misleading statements by the former president, none of that will matter within the four walls of a courtroom. in terms ofthat four walls of a courtroom. in terms of thatjury. _ four walls of a courtroom. in terms ofthatjury. your— four walls of a courtroom. in terms of thatjury, your prosecutor, - four walls of a courtroom. in terms of thatjury, your prosecutor, what| of thatjury, your prosecutor, what are you trying to do at this stage and what are you trying to avoid doing? —— you are a prosecutor. the doing? -- you are a prosecutor. the prosecution — doing? -- you are a prosecutor. the prosecution is _ doing? —— you are a prosecutor. iie: prosecution isjust doing? —— you are a prosecutor. "iie: prosecution is just trying doing? —— you are a prosecutor. iie: prosecution is just trying to avoid having anyone on the jury who will be a wild card, who will ignore the evidence and essentially side with the defendant simply because they like the defendant or theyjust distrust the government. the government has fewer opportunities to remove witnesses than the defence. both sides can move witness or ask thejudge to defence. both sides can move witness or ask the judge to remove a witness if they believe the witness will be unfair but the judges going to take if narrow view of that. in other words, it is not going to be enough that hejury has words, it is not going to be enough that he jury has heard about donald trump heard about this case, they will have to be something that the juror feels like they could not put aside and be fair so it will really come down to the strikes at both sides have. the defence has more strikes and will have an opportunity to try to shape the jury. the one they like but the government will not have that opportunity. what they like but the government will not have that opportunity. what do ou make not have that opportunity. what do you make of _ not have that opportunity. what do you make of the — not have that opportunity. what do you make of the strengths - not have that opportunity. what do you make of the strengths or- you make of the strengths or weaknesses of the case and the witnesses, key witnesses we are likely to hear from?— witnesses, key witnesses we are likely to hear from? great question. the prosecution _ likely to hear from? great question. the prosecution side, _ likely to hear from? great question. the prosecution side, the _ likely to hear from? great question. the prosecution side, the strength l the prosecution side, the strength is the false statements themselves. in other words there is no serious question that any books and records of the trump organisation there are false statements because there is no question michael cohen was not performing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of legal services and in fact had given that money to stormy daniels and that is the strength of the government's case. 0n the defence side it is all going to come down to what donald trump knew, essentially, arguing that trump did not know about those false records and did not intend to commit any sort of crime, he was simply trying to spare his wife and family some sort of embarrassment and for them i would say the strength may very well end up being the strong feelings that one of two jurors might have towards donald trump. aha, might have towards donald trump. a final twin thought then because there is a gag order in place and we have seen donald trump breach that several times so that is one thing to watch during this trial as it unfolds, the other of course is the question i was asking nada tawfik about whether he will take the stand. you are a former prosecutor so what would your strategy be if he did go into the witness box, would it be to encourage him and try and sort of make him lose control? that is about right- _ sort of make him lose control? that is about right. i _ sort of make him lose control? that is about right. i think _ sort of make him lose control? “iisgt is about right. i think the strategy for the prosecution would be this is a great circumstance for them and they will try to point out every time he is lying, every time he is deceiving. they will put all that in front of the jury and really the decision... i have been... since i left the government on the defence site for several years. the decision to put your client on the stand as transformative in a criminal case. if the defendant does not take the stand in united states, nothing can be inferred from his silence. really the jury then is be inferred from his silence. really thejury then is basically be inferred from his silence. really the jury then is basically debating, is there enough evidence to convict? that the prosecution present enough evidence? as soon as the defendant takes the stand, the question is is the defendant telling the truth? whose story is more believable, the prosecution or the defence? it transforms in all trial and i would suspect that if he takes the stand, mr bragg's team, the district attorney, would essentially turn that into an attack on mr tom's veracity which is all very highly in question. veracity which is all very highly in cuestion. , ., ., ., ~ ., question. great to talk to you, thanks for— question. great to talk to you, thanks forjoining _ question. great to talk to you, thanks forjoining us _ question. great to talk to you, thanks forjoining us here - question. great to talk to you, thanks forjoining us here on l question. great to talk to you, l thanks forjoining us here on the programme and thanks, too, to nada tawfik is at the courthouse and we will speak to nada tawfik again in the next hour as more detail emerges from the courtroom, thank you to you both. now to israel, where the country's war cabinet has been meeting again, to consider its response to iran's weekend drone and missile attack. a meeting of the war cabinet on sunday night, ended without consensus. iran has called on western nations to "appreciate its restraint" after its attack in retaliation for a deadly strike on its consulate in syria. international pressure for restraint has mounted in the past 24 hours with the united nations chief antonio guterres warning israel to "step back from the brink" .. and britain's foreign secretary lord cameron saying israel should recognise that iran's attack had been a failure and not respond. however, a member of israel's war cabinet, benny gantz has said it will "exact a price" when the timing is right. let's get the latest from our middle east correspondent yolande knell injerusalem. weighing its next move, israel's working and abbott are said to favour hitting back tehran —— at iran. this was the first time that iran had targeted israel directly from its own soil, bringing the long shadow war between the two countries out to the open. israel says 99% of around's lunches were intercepted. 0nly around's lunches were intercepted. only a few ballistic missiles struck here at this air base used by its stealth fighter jets where there here at this air base used by its stealth fighterjets where there is minimal damage. nearby at a bedouin family home, shrapnel injured a seven—year—old girl. translation: the children were frightened and wanted us to run away and that is when the missile hit our house. last niuht saw when the missile hit our house. last night saw an — when the missile hit our house. last night saw an emergency meeting by the un security council. israel stressing its right to a response. following such a massive and direct attack on israel, the entire world let alone israel cannot settle for an action. —— for inaction. but let alone israel cannot settle for an action. -- for inaction. but iran said it was — an action. -- for inaction. but iran said it was a _ an action. -- for inaction. but iran said it was a justified _ an action. -- for inaction. but iran said it was a justified response - an action. -- for inaction. but iran said it was a justified response to | said it was a justified response to a deadly air strike on its consulate in syria claiming the us and others had shielded israel during the gaza war. , ., war. they have denied the inherent riaht war. they have denied the inherent ri . ht to war. they have denied the inherent right to defend _ war. they have denied the inherent right to defend against _ war. they have denied the inherent right to defend against the - war. they have denied the inherent right to defend against the size - war. they have denied the inherent right to defend against the size of. right to defend against the size of attack on our diplomatic services at the same time they shamefully justify the israeli massacre and genocide against the defenceless palestinian people on the pretext of self defence. palestinian people on the pretext of self defence-— self defence. amid fears of another dan . erous self defence. amid fears of another dangerous new _ self defence. amid fears of another dangerous new war, _ self defence. amid fears of another dangerous new war, world - self defence. amid fears of another dangerous new war, world leaders l self defence. amid fears of another i dangerous new war, world leaders are urgently calling for calm. irate dangerous new war, world leaders are urgently calling for calm.— urgently calling for calm. we have a shared responsibility _ urgently calling for calm. we have a shared responsibility to _ urgently calling for calm. we have a shared responsibility to work - urgently calling for calm. we have a shared responsibility to work for - shared responsibility to work for peace. regionaland in shared responsibility to work for peace. regional and in global peace and security are being undermined by the hour. neither the region nor the world can afford more war. for now, alle es world can afford more war. for now, all eyes are — world can afford more war. for now, all eyes are on _ world can afford more war. for now, all eyes are on israel— world can afford more war. for now, all eyes are on israel at _ world can afford more war. for now, all eyes are on israel at another- all eyes are on israel at another pivotal moment for the middle east. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. more political reaction. we played you that statement from rishi sunak in the house of commons which are still going on so let's dip back in and hear some more of what is being said. ., , and hear some more of what is being said. . , ., ,, ., , and hear some more of what is being said. . , ., , , said. charity commission is very recently opened _ said. charity commission is very recently opened an _ said. charity commission is very| recently opened an investigation into a particular organisation and we will continue to use all the powers at our disposal to make sure people are not fermenting hate and undermining british values here at home from abroad. i undermining british values here at home from abroad.— home from abroad. i have notified the office of— home from abroad. i have notified the office of the _ home from abroad. i have notified the office of the member - home from abroad. i have notified the office of the member for - home from abroad. i have notified i the office of the member for rutland and melton that i would be referencing her in my question. it was recently revealed that the chair of the _ was recently revealed that the chair of the select committee told a private — of the select committee told a private fundraising event, and i quote, — private fundraising event, and i quote, the foreign office has received _ quote, the foreign office has received official legal advice that isreel— received official legal advice that israel has broken international humanitarian law that the government has not _ humanitarian law that the government has not announced it, so i have a very— has not announced it, so i have a very simple — has not announced it, so i have a very simple question for the prime minister_ very simple question for the prime minister and very simple question for the prime ministerand if very simple question for the prime minister and if you cannot answer that, _ minister and if you cannot answer that, if— minister and if you cannot answer that, if he — minister and if you cannot answer that, if he judges and deflects, our constituents will know he is hiding the truth — constituents will know he is hiding the truth. was she telling the truth? — the truth. was she telling the truth? yes or no? i�*m the truth. was she telling the truth? yes or no?— the truth. was she telling the truth? yes or no? i'm happy to address this _ truth? yes or no? i'm happy to address this very _ truth? yes or no? i'm happy to address this very clearly. - truth? yes or no? i'm happy to address this very clearly. we i truth? yes or no? i'm happy to i address this very clearly. we have one of the most robust arms expert licensing controls regimes in the entire world. we have previously assessed that israel is committed and capable of complying with that and capable of complying with that and we regularly review our assessment as she would expect. as the foreign secretary confirmed last week, the uk position on export licences is unchanged and following the latest assessment is in line with our legal advice. we will keep that position on the review and act in accordance with the advice and i would also point out to her that actually most like—minded countries have not suspended their existing arms export licences to israel. i. arms export licences to israel. i, too, welcome the prime minister's leadership— too, welcome the prime minister's leadership in this area. prime minister's leadership in this area. while he add his thanks in addition to the thanks for the raf, who have undertaken exemplary action this weekend, also those us service personnel based in the united kingdom, including many in my constituency, who were prepared to act at he moment's notice in order to defend the attack on israel which has been roundly condemned. i am ha- has been roundly condemned. i am ha - to has been roundly condemned. i am happy to join _ has been roundly condemned. i am happy to join my _ has been roundly condemned. i am happy to join my honourable friend in paying tribute to our colleagues, notjust in america but from partners around the region who participated in a joint international effort. this was all international effort. this was all in support of israel's own actions and also their armed forces deserve enormous praise for the success in which they repelled this awful attack. ., which they repelled this awful attack. . , , , which they repelled this awful attack. . ., . , which they repelled this awful attack. . ., attack. can i pass my condolences to ou and attack. can i pass my condolences to you and your — attack. can i pass my condolences to you and your family _ attack. can i pass my condolences to you and your family for _ attack. can i pass my condolences to you and your family for the _ attack. can i pass my condolences to you and your family for the sad - attack. can i pass my condolences to you and your family for the sad loss | you and your family for the sad loss of your father. we live in deeply unsettling times. the prime minister is right, along with our allies, to call for a de—escalation. when the prime minister has the discussions with prime ministers netanyahu this afternoon, can he convey to him that now is the time to step back? there must be no further escalation in the middle east. mr speaker, now is the time to recognise that both israelis and palestinians must live in peace. in order to do that, we need that two state solution. as the former prime minister david cameron said in 2014 when we had an outbreak of violence in gaza, he then unequivocally called for a ceasefire. we must now today put an end to the conflict and the killing in that region for the benefit of both these countries. finally, if i may say so, i welcome the comments of the prime minister on the situation in ukraine, but we are all aware of the reports of the build—up of russian activity, and i ask the prime minister, with our allies, that we must do more today to protect our friends, give them the tools that they need to be able to defend themselves and to be able to make sure that russia is defeated. i am happy to say to ever honourable gentlemen that we remain steadfast in our support for ukraine and we will not allow putin to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom in that country. i made a trip at the beginning of this year and have encouraged allies to do the same. we are committed to supporting ukraine for as long as it takes, for not only for them to win the war but also emerge as a strong sovereign and free country. you're watching that the rate continued there in the house of commons. around the world the uk, you're watching bbc news. let's go back to the commons and your more. territorial integrity of other nations. that is one of our key objectives with regards to ukraine. 0f objectives with regards to ukraine. of course, i condemn in the fullest iran's attack on israel. i have previously condemned iran's malign behaviour in the region. the question that is on people's mind is this, what information or intelligence does the prime minister have with regards to what was going on in iran's consulate in damascus which led to that attack by israel? the international community and people around the world want to see the united kingdom and apply international law consistently across the board.— international law consistently across the board. ~ . ., , , across the board. whatever happened in that situation _ across the board. whatever happened in that situation has _ across the board. whatever happened in that situation has not _ across the board. whatever happened in that situation has not been - in that situation has not been confirmed. regardless, there can never be anyjustification for launching over 300 drones and missiles towards israel from another sovereign country. it was right that we took action with allies to repel that attack. rishi sunak there are any house of commons as he continues on that statement with the events in iran over the weekend. we will continue to monitor that there are any house of commons if there is more 70p we return to it. —— if there is more of significance. turning to a story that has just come in because the future of the oceans coral reefs is under peril more than ever. the future of the ocean's coral reefs is more perilous than ever. that's according to the us national oceanic and atmospheric administration. in the last few minutes it's announced what it calls the fourth mass coral—bleaching event is under way. this is what's at risk mile after mile of coral reef slowly turning white or even dying out altogether. by some estimates around 50% of coral has been lost in the last 20 years. with more on this let's speak to our science reporter georgina rannard. welcome to the programme. this seems quite a disturbing new report. bring us right up to date. yes. quite a disturbing new report. bring us right up to date.— quite a disturbing new report. bring us right up to date. yes, what these us officials are _ us right up to date. yes, what these us officials are saying _ us right up to date. yes, what these us officials are saying is _ us right up to date. yes, what these us officials are saying is that - us right up to date. yes, what these us officials are saying is that we - us officials are saying is that we are now in the fourth global mass coral bleaching event. the first was a 1998 and there has been to since then and now we are in the fourth one. what this means is coral is very sensitive living often in shallow waters but when the water its living and gets too hot, it gets stressed, it expels an algae that lives inside it and can turn white and often die. this is interesting also because we've been seeing for months and his broken climate records, urgently driving up and really seeing unprecedented styles in the oceans that are driven by climate change and also by this natural climate fluctuation starting last year. we reported on those broken records for months but this is now the first really solid evidence ofjust is now the first really solid evidence of just what that heat is now the first really solid evidence ofjust what that heat is doing to the oceans and to this really fragile, sensitive ecosystem and coral build these vast cities under water which are sometimes called the sea's architects and they live a quarter of all marine life so this is notjust about these amazing animals, it's also about the rest of us, ourfishing and the income, the trillions of dollars that they generate around the world. irate trillions of dollars that they generate around the world. we are seeinu generate around the world. we are seeing coral— generate around the world. we are seeing coral reefs _ generate around the world. we are seeing coral reefs in _ generate around the world. we are seeing coral reefs in all— generate around the world. we are seeing coral reefs in all their - seeing coral reefs in all their glory with all their colours but once the bleaching starts, is there any way that it can be stopped or reversed? ., , ., ., , reversed? that is one of the things, the pictures are _ reversed? that is one of the things, the pictures are quite _ reversed? that is one of the things, the pictures are quite beautiful - reversed? that is one of the things, the pictures are quite beautiful butl the pictures are quite beautiful but up the pictures are quite beautiful but up close sign to say when they dive in the water, the coral is decaying and they can see it as coming apart. unfortunately once the coral start to bleach, it is very difficult to turn back. if given enough time it can recover but it needs to lead to five years and in that time it is susceptible to disease. if there is enough time and recovery, it can but it is unlikely. some coral reefs outside some successful restoration and managed to create some coral resistant to higher temperatures at all the scientists were spoken due to prepare for the story said it is really a case of adapting to a future with a different type of coral and much less of it rather than being able to save all the coral reefs across the world was oceans. iii coral reefs across the world was oceans. , ., ,, oceans. in previous bleaching events, oceans. in previous bleaching events. how _ oceans. in previous bleaching events, how much _ oceans. in previous bleaching events, how much of - oceans. in previous bleaching events, how much of the - oceans. in previous bleaching i events, how much of the world's coral reefs were actually lost? it is very difficult to tell exactly how much coral mortality there has been, that would require scientists to go into every single piece of coal relief in the world and in the last episode, 2014—16, more than half of the world's corals were in waters that are too hot and in some areas we saw 25% of 30%, up to 50% mortality. this episode the us officials have just declared mortality. this episode the us officials havejust declared is still ongoing and they say they do expect the bleaching to surpass it and one of the other think about is coral provides is amazing home with some of the sound they make, the creaking and almost singing, it is vital to the fish that live in the waters and when the fish actually use that creaking to find their way home and when the coral dies, the fish lose that sound that is the siren that takes them back and what we see when the coral dies is fish and other animals no longerfinding that way back to the huge reefs they call their home. irate that way back to the huge reefs they call their home.— call their home. we have to leave it the other thank _ call their home. we have to leave it the other thank you _ call their home. we have to leave it the other thank you for _ call their home. we have to leave it the other thank you for bringing - call their home. we have to leave it the other thank you for bringing us| the other thank you for bringing us right up—to—date on that breaking new report. a couple of lines to bring you before we go to break, to the middle east first row and uk airline easyjet saying they have suspended flights to and from tel aviv. lufthansa doing a similar thing only yesterday but easyjet saying they have suspended flights to and from tel aviv. let me show you the pictures from new york because at that trial with donald trump they are taking a ten minute break and we will be back there life on the programme to get the very latest. all that is coming up here on bbc news. it can be a fickle month. looking wet and windy at times with it strong enough to blow down trees, the wind, with two tornadoes reported. in light dusting of snow in bradford earlier on this morning but at the same time, as the cloud, wind and rain is the way, there are windows are brighter, sunnier, springlike moments and this was in kent. looking atjust what is responsible. this area of low pressure, the front moved quite quickly but they strong north—westerly wind feeding shim showers in and there will continue to be some wintry nest from time to time as well. the showers will gradually recede as the locals into the north sea. and you can see this driving more cloud and showers along the east coast but clearer skies elsewhere meaning a chilly start to our tuesday morning. tuesday on the whole will be a slightly quieter day for most of us with again anywhere from yorkshire down to east anglia could continue to see some cloud and showers and with the strong wind, cold feel to the day but further west, lighter winds, cold feel to the day but further west, lighterwinds, more in cold feel to the day but further west, lighter winds, more in the way of sunshine coming through and still some showers but hopefully few and far between in comparison to today and with those wins a bit lighter, temperatures likely to peak generally between 9—13 c. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, we are starting to see an area of high pressure trying to build in from the atlantic, we will need to be patient but it does indicate a slightly quieter story as we head towards the weekend with still outbreaks of rain from this weather front which is toppling across the eye pressure so a quieter start on wednesday, chilly start for some of us but there will be some sunshine clouding over from the west across northern isles down towards the irish sea with rain into wales by the end of the afternoon and a few scattered showers elsewhere with tempered are starting to climb up to around 13—14 c than the high pressure will tend to build, keeping things largely fine and quiet as we head towards the weekend, a degree or so warmer with that as well. that is it, take care. this is bbc news. the headlines: the hush money trial of donald trump opens in new york — the first criminal trial of a former us president. new pictures of the barrage of missiles and drones launched by iran at israel — as tehran rejects western criticism of its attack. france calls for an end to the wall of silence, one year into sudan's "forgotten war" as the devastated nation heads towards famine. a 15—year—old boy is arrested after another mass stabbing event in sydney — this time a church is targeted. time for a look at the business news now with ben thompson. we start with the fallout from iran's attack on israel over the weekend. israel's allies are urging restraint as they seek to calm tensions because as well as the risk of military action, they have concerns about the impact on the global economy. financial markets are watching closely for any response from israel which has said it will hit back "at a time and in a manner of its choosing."