you're live with bbc news from london. finland is to become the 31st member of nato today — a decision prompted by russia's invasion of ukraine. former president donald trump arrives in new york, ahead of his appearance in court facing criminal charges. london city becomes the second uk airport to scrap rules on liquid limits in hand luggage. and the former uk conservative politician nigel lawson — who was margaret thatcher's chancellor in the 80s — has died at the age of 91.

hello and welcome. finland will become the 31st member of nato later on tuesday. the application to join the western military alliance was prompted by the invasion of ukraine by russia, with which finland shares a long border. our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, has this story. finland only said it wanted to join nato last year. this afternoon, its flag will be raised at the headquarters in brussels, the quickest accession process in nato�*s recent history. president putin went to war against ukraine with a declared aim to get less nato. he wanted nato to remove our forces, our structures, from all allies that havejoined after 1997, meaning all allies in central and eastern europe. and he wanted nato to make it absolutely clear that nato�*s door was closed for any new membership. he's getting the exact opposite.

he's getting more nato presence in the eastern part of the alliance, and he's getting two new members, with finland and sweden. finland's long frontier with russia, the scene of fighting early in the second world war, more than doubles the border between nato and its adversary at a time, thanks to the war in ukraine, of extremely high tension. finland's armed forces are well trained and well equipped with huge numbers of reserves. finland has been a close partner of nato for years. it'll have no trouble fitting in. its neighbour to the west, sweden, is likely to follow suit in the coming months, once differences with another nato member, turkey, are resolved. moscow says it'll strengthen its forces nearby to confront what it sees as nato�*s threatening move. and if the alliance deploys troops and equipment to finland, as it has in the baltics, then russia says it'll take additional steps. paul adams, bbc news.

with more on this let's go to helsinki where i'm joined by eoin mcnamara, a research fellow at the the finnish institute of internal affairs. this is a hugely significant for a fourth on land which is abandoning its long—held stance of neutrality. it is and it is a significant day for the nato alliance as a whole and security in northern europe. the attitude of _ security in northern europe. the attitude of the _ security in northern europe. the attitude of the people of finland tonight or changed overnight, before the russian invasion of ukraine 30% were forjoining nato and after the invasion it was 80% so how real do you think any threat is from russia towards finland? figs you think any threat is from russia towards finland?— towards finland? as john maynard ke nes towards finland? as john maynard keynes once _ towards finland? as john maynard keynes once said _ towards finland? as john maynard keynes once said when _ towards finland? as john maynard keynes once said when the - towards finland? as john maynard keynes once said when the facts i keynes once said when the facts change i change my mind on the facts changed in late 21 when russia started issuing ultimatums to nato that it would not take any new

members into 22 with its brutal escalation of aggression in ukraine. these issues, these facts change. finland was very well informed about the various security options and of course nato deterrence and collective defence, that is seen as the strongest medicine for security in finland right now. no one wants the battle more crimes that we have seenin the battle more crimes that we have seen in ukraine replicated on the territory of finland so this flipped the switch of public opinion in finland and brought the country on this year—long journey towards nato membership that will find its final destination today with fenland becoming a full member of the alliance. �* , . , , , alliance. it's happened extremely cuickl . alliance. it's happened extremely quickly- did _ alliance. it's happened extremely quickly. did anyone _ alliance. it's happened extremely quickly. did anyone expect - alliance. it's happened extremely quickly. did anyone expect that? | alliance. it's happened extremely| quickly. did anyone expect that? i think the finnish _ quickly. did anyone expect that? i think the finnish people _ quickly. did anyone expect that? i think the finnish people are - quickly. did anyone expect that? i l think the finnish people are always vigilant at the country amid the

political criteria for nato membership, then land is a strong and mature and liberal democracy, and mature and liberal democracy, and people that like there is a strong and defensive military system for a strong state so it is an asset for a strong state so it is an asset for the alliance just as the alliance is an asset for fenland. it is a two—way street but what will change militarily for finland? i do not think too _ change militarily for finland? i gr not think too much will change. of course, nato is notjust about the atlantic treaty, it's about the organisation in nato. then land will have a full seat at the table. its military planners and civilian security planners, diplomats and defence officials will be fully involved in nato planning and contingency planning for security across the alliance and security in northern europe so this is very good news notjust northern europe so this is very good news not just for fenland northern europe so this is very good news notjust for fenland and nato but for the nordic neighbours to the

west and baltic neighbours to the south of finland.— south of finland. thank you for “oininu south of finland. thank you for joining us _ south of finland. thank you for joining us and _ south of finland. thank you for joining us and for— south of finland. thank you for joining us and for your - south of finland. thank you for| joining us and for your thoughts south of finland. thank you for - joining us and for your thoughts on fenland joining nato today. donald trump is spending the night in new york — at trump tower — before appearing in court later. he's set to make history once again — this time as the first president of the united states to be charged with a criminal offence. the charges relate to money paid to a porn star to keep quiet about an affair before the 2016 election. the judge has ruled that pooled media will be allowed to take still pictures in the courtroom — just before the hearing gets underway — but tv cameras will only be allowed in outside corridors. security measures will be in place with the authorities expecting demonstrations by the president's supporters and opponents. let's get the latest from nada tawfik in manhattan.

donald trump kept a low profile as he arrived in new york on the eve of his history—making court appearance, staying in at his penthouse in trump tower to confer with his attorneys. but on social media, it was a different story. he slammed the case against him as a witch hunt, and he called on the district attorney, alvin bragg, to resign. his call for mass protests failed to gain traction. but on fifth avenue outside of trump tower, a few supporters and critics turned out. trump is the first former president charged with a crime, a fact that has put him back in the spotlight. he shouldn't even be charged with a misdemeanour in this case and they're charging him with a felony. oh, my god, they really don't like this guy, they're really afraid of him. i think it's amazing and it's beautiful that finally- the institutions are doing - what they're supposed to do. i think we're all. witnessing history. i'm here out of a sense of duty and gratitude. in 2016, donald trump became

president and he told the american people, the working people of america, "i've got your back." now he's in peril, he's being persecuted, ifelt i had to come in to let him know i got your back, mr president. us news channels aired wall to wall coverage of his journey as the secret service escorted him to new york. camera and news helicopters captured every moment from mar—a—lago past a street of supporters cheering him on, to his flight on his private boeing 757 aircraft into laguardia airport. as trump was taking off, officials in new york held a press conference with this warning to anyone planning to protest. while there may be some rabble rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow, our message is clear and simple — control yourselves. new york city is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger. it's here in this courthouse where donald trump will answer

to the criminal charges against him, notjust as a defendant, but a presidential hopeful. 2024 may feel like a long way off, but the dynamics of this case are already shaping the race for the white house. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. let's go live to new york and talk to our correspondent, michelle fleury. sta rt start the middle of the night though so not much action going on at the moment but take us through how the day is expected to unfold. we moment but take us through how the day is expected to unfold.— day is expected to unfold. we are exectin: day is expected to unfold. we are exoecting the _ day is expected to unfold. we are expecting the next _ day is expected to unfold. we are expecting the next chapter- day is expected to unfold. we are expecting the next chapter in - expecting the next chapter in american history to be rewritten. this is the former president of the us who is going to be booked and fingerprinted, all of this before any historic hearing, we keep using those words but really we have never seen a former or current present in america everfacing criminal charges. after that he is expected to return to his resort in palm

beach florida where he will speak to the public but before that there is this hearing will be the charges against him. all of this stemming from an investigation that has been very long running into his business dealings. very long running into his business dealinas. ~ . , ., dealings. michelle, some parts of the media have _ dealings. michelle, some parts of the media have wanted _ dealings. michelle, some parts of the media have wanted to - dealings. michelle, some parts of the media have wanted to have i dealings. michelle, some parts of. the media have wanted to have this televised, of the court proceedings but they did not get their way so what will be get a sense of what happens in court? you what will be get a sense of what happens in court?— what will be get a sense of what happens in court? you know, the church had _ happens in court? you know, the church had been _ happens in court? you know, the church had been asked _ happens in court? you know, the church had been asked whether. happens in court? you know, thel church had been asked whether or happens in court? you know, the - church had been asked whether or not he would let people in given what was at stake here and the significance of this day and it was interesting, thejudge significance of this day and it was interesting, the judge acknowledged the importance of what would be taking place but he said he had other things and other considerations he had to take into account. so the compromise if you'd like is that there will be some still photographers allowed in before proceedings begin but then once things get under way, they will be asked to leave the courtroom and

there will be no tv cameras allowed inside. so we willjust have to wait, there is this press conference we expect later in the day from the district attorney alvin bragg and again, this speech we are expecting from donald trump when he returns to florida. . ~' , ., from donald trump when he returns to florida. ., ~ , ., ., from donald trump when he returns to florida. . ~' , ., ., ., from donald trump when he returns to florida. ., ~ ., ., , florida. thank you and of course we will follow all _ florida. thank you and of course we will follow all those _ florida. thank you and of course we will follow all those developments l will follow all those developments as they unfold. live now to rachel tausendfreund who is a senior fellow at the german marshall fund, an american thinktank based in berlin. thank you for being with us. the first former us president to face criminal charges so how is it playing out on the world stage? anytime you have a former president charged with a crime, taken to jail and fingerprinted this is a major story and yet it is not quite as unprecedented as we might think. the french president nicolas because cosey was convicted, we know pro

minister benjamin netanyahu is undergoing a criminal trial so on the one hand there is lots of tension and worry, lots of head shaking. but on the other hand there not that destabilising because president trump called for a revolution and brought protests, we are only seeing some protests in new york so i am confident it will not be as crazy as we might have feared, at least initially. x�*t�*ou be as crazy as we might have feared, at least initially.— at least initially. you do not think it will be inflammatory, - at least initially. you do not think it will be inflammatory, there - at least initially. you do not think it will be inflammatory, there is l it will be inflammatory, there is warnings in new york for people not to treat the city as a playground, to treat the city as a playground, to behave themselves but concerns that pro—and anti—trump supporters could take to the streets notjust in europe and around the country? he is a very polarising figure, as we have seen. he is a very polarising figure, as we have seen-— is a very polarising figure, as we have seen. , , ., , ., have seen. he is very polarising and initiall he have seen. he is very polarising and initially he received _ have seen. he is very polarising and initially he received a _ have seen. he is very polarising and initially he received a small - have seen. he is very polarising and initially he received a small bump i initially he received a small bump initially he received a small bump in support from this. something like 4% increase in support. and his main

opponent for the presidential nomination in the republican side is what i am saying, he has 7 million in additional donations after he announced he would be charged so he is getting a lot of support from his core offence within the republican party and they are also inoculated against negative information against him, they have been told of the entire time the media and the elites are against and therefore this will not change their opinion and some of them will be on the streets and many of them will be dissatisfied. but we're not seeing a kind of national protest movement, and i hope we do not. , , ., , protest movement, and i hope we do not. ,, ., ., protest movement, and i hope we do not. ., protest movement, and i hope we do not. ,, ., ., ., not. this story has a long way to run. not. this story has a long way to run- within _ not. this story has a long way to run. within the _ not. this story has a long way to run. within the republican - not. this story has a long way to run. within the republican party itself nobody is really breaking ranks at the moment, are they, including other potential republican presidential nominee is so how do you see this playing out with them? i think they are going to wait and see out the facts develop and what they see in terms of support. it's

really early. the primary is for the republican nominations do not start until february so we will not know until february so we will not know until december orjanuary how this will turn out and if people are going to start speaking out against president trump. i know there are some people who are quietly hoping that this is going to finally post the trump bubble. how will first make an attempt vis—a—vis the voters, that remains to be seen. rachel, thank you forjoining us. let's look at some of the day's other news. the uk government says funding for the social care workforce in england has been halved. in 2021, the government pledged "at least" £500 million for reforms, but that figure is now £250 million, according to the department of health. the government said its reforms would give care "the status it deserves" but some organisations in the sector say they fall short of what is needed. almost all wet wipes containing plastics will be banned

as part of a new government strategy to clean up england's water. the plan will also see water companies ordered to bring forward £1.6 billion of investment to reduce sewage spills into rivers and tougher regulations, including potentially unlimited fines for pollution incidents. sir richard branson's rocket company, virgin 0rbit, has filed for bankruptcy in the us after failing to secure new investment. the satellite launch company halted operations weeks ago but it hopes to find a buyer for the business. london city airport has scrapped the 100ml liquid limit by using high—tech scanners which also allow electronics to be kept in hand luggage at security. travellers can now carry on up to two litres of liquid, and toiletries no longer have to be put in separate bags. we'll bring you more on that story later in the programme.

what do i like about myjob? everything. i love the fact that i work in a place full of so many interesting, intelligent and innovative people. i love the fact that when i come into work, i know that i'm going to tell a story or many stories to viewers, both in the uk and around the globe. but i know how important that is in the age that we're living in. i also love the fact that i get to speak to so many different people every day and get them to tell me their stories. as a chief presenter here at the bbc, it's myjob to be across what's happening. so in the morning i get up and the first thing i do is i look at what's happening in the papers, digitally. i come into work and i talk everything through with my team. through the day, i'm listening to podcasts, listening to what's happening on the radio and watching, i have to say, some of the competition as well, sometimes. i think it's really important for people like us to be across what is happening in the news, because we are the ones who you are relying on to give

you the full facts. you're with bbc news, live from london. the former conservative politician nigel lawson — who was margaret thatcher's chancellor in the �*80s — has died at the age of 91. he was the longest serving chancellor of the 20th century — before he resigned in 1989 over thatcher's choice of economic advisor. political figures have been paying tribute to him. prime minister rishi sunak tweeted this: "one of the first things i did as chancellor was hang a picture of nigel lawson above my desk. the current chancellorjeremy hunt said: "nigel lawson was a rarity amongst politicians, someone who transformed our thinking as well as transforming our economy. and former prime minister boris

johnson wrote: "nigel lawson was a fearless and original flame of free market conservatism. here's more from our political correspondent helen catt. nigel lawson was the architect of the economic policies that underpinned thatcherism. six years in office saw some of the most far reaching changes ever made to britain's financial affairs. i was asked to be the first city editor for the new sunday telegraph. he began his career as a journalist, editing the spectator magazine and making regular appearances as a tv pundit. nigel lawson. he became an mp in 1970, earning a reputation as a man of the right. here he was, calling for the end of sanctions against rhodesia, as it was then. the purpose of economic sanctions was to achieve a political end.

they have failed to do this, and i think it is clear to all of us now, if it wasn't clear before, that they never will. just this way, sir. in 1983, he became chancellor in mrs thatcher's cabinet, presenting a series of tax cutting budgets. the privatisation of state industries saw him fulfil his vision of a people's capitalism. his relaxation of the rules governing london's stock market was aimed at making the city a successful financial centre. but as inflation and interest rates rose, the government found itself in trouble. lawson's opposition to the poll tax, a measure which led to huge public disorder, soured relations with margaret thatcher. a public row with the prime minister's financial guru, sir alan walters, was the final straw. good evening. the chancellor nigel lawson resigned tonight, taking the government, westminster and financial markets around the world

totally by surprise. his resignation was seen by many as the beginning of the end of the thatcher era. he sat in the lords as lord lawson until last december, during which time he criticised the idea of man—made climate change and argued to leave the european union. the european union, as it is now, half of it is a complete economic basket case and the other half is not all that great. his view had always been that the markets should operate with the minimum of interference, a philosophy that guided one of the 20th century's longest serving and most reforming chancellors. nigel lawson who has died at the age of 91. live now to charles moore, columnist with the daily telegraph and the authorised biographer of margaret thatcher.

he was a towering political figure but could you give us more perspective on his legacy? nigel lawson after— perspective on his legacy? nigel lawson after mrs _ perspective on his legacy? nigel lawson after mrs thatcher, - perspective on his legacy? ii gei lawson after mrs thatcher, was the greatest politician at expressing the idea of greaterfreedom particularly economic freedom and he had a sort of intellectual grasp of the subject which almost everybody else lacked and he had the time as a successful chancellor, things did go wrong before the end, to develop these ideas and operate it so he was these ideas and operate it so he was the sort of economic brains of thatcherism. and he really made it feel as if things were changing and had changed and that you could free up had changed and that you could free up markets and you could introduce regulation unrestrained and you could get away from the oppressive and sluggish atmosphere of the 70s

into the sunlit uplands of the 80s. he argued against high tax rates, he was progrowth, transforming the economic landscape and his imprint still lives in within the conservative party. we heard the former chancellor paid tribute to him. his thoughts still influence thinking in the cabinet today? yes. thinking in the cabinet today? yes, i think particularly _ thinking in the cabinet today? yes i think particularly with rishi sunak, the prime minister because he has also financially and economically minded and was inspired by as a very young man by nigel lawson and still believes in those thatcherite economic principles although when he came into office particularly during covid it made it very difficult for him to get into what he sees as the right situation but that is always in his mind and lawson is his particular model. iie lawson is his particular model. he sta ed lawson is his particular model. he stayed politically active and interested up until the end, he

backed brexit and that gave the movement a significant weight? it did, especially on the economic issues. funnily enough he had for the night catastrophically with mrs thatcher over europe because it was not he was a euro enthusiast, he was not. it was about whether or not the pound sterling should go its own way in the world and she strongly believe that and he thought it should join the exchange rate mechanism, the erm which it finally did, did not work out but they fell out very badly about this. this seemingly iron alliance between margaret thatcher and nigel lawson crumble. and that i think and europe as part of that, first he went and then a year later, she went. iie as part of that, first he went and then a year later, she went. he was a big beast — then a year later, she went. he was a big beast of _ then a year later, she went. he was a big beast of his _ then a year later, she went. he was a big beast of his generation - then a year later, she went. he was a big beast of his generation and i a big beast of his generation and certainly someone i grew up knowing and hearing about. i can imagine that many politicians were probably a little bit frightened of him. what

was he like as a person? i a little bit frightened of him. what was he like as a person?— was he like as a person? i liked him, he could _ was he like as a person? i liked him, he could be _ was he like as a person? i liked him, he could be slightly - was he like as a person? i liked i him, he could be slightly arrogant but he was very amusing, very direct. being a journalist myself, thatis direct. being a journalist myself, that is his background as well. i like the way he was quite sort of sardonic, almost cynical and he had strong beliefs but he was realistic about people's motives in politics and had great clarity of mind. no discussion with nigel lawson was ever wasted. discussion with nigel lawson was ever wasted-— discussion with nigel lawson was everwasted. ., , ., ,, ., ever wasted. charles, thank you for tellin: us ever wasted. charles, thank you for telling us more _ ever wasted. charles, thank you for telling us more about _ ever wasted. charles, thank you for telling us more about nigel- ever wasted. charles, thank you for | telling us more about nigel lawson, his life and his legacy.— the australian government has said that tiktok will be banned on all government devices — because of fears about security. similar bans have already been implemented from other western nations. early last month beijing accused the us of overreacting — after federal employees were ordered to remove tiktok from government—issued phones. the european union has also barred the video—sharing app from official government devices. two weeks ago british

government ministers were also banned from using tiktok on their work phones and devices — also because of security grounds. use of the app has exploded in recent years, with 3.5 billion downloads worldwide. footage has been shared by chester zoo, capturing the moment its sumatran tiger cubs take a first adventure out of their den. here's twins alif and raya playing together. the pair — who are just two months old were spotted enjoying some rough and tumble under the watchful eye of mum kasarna. they look very cute but you would not want to get too close, would you? plenty more to come on of the top stories today including the latest from new york as donald trump prepares to go to court to face his indictment and arraignment on

criminal charges. stay with us here on bbc news. i will be back shortly. hello again. it was a cold and frosty start today and for some of us it was also cloudy and damp, notably in the north and west. if you have an allergy to tree pollen it is worth mentioning across wales on the southern half of england, poland levels are high. high pressure in charge, this first weather front has produced patchy rain, the second will bring in heavy and more persistent rain across northern ireland and western scotland later and in between, what we are looking at is some brightness developing, a little bit of sunshine but it will not last terribly long. for instance eastern scotland, we will see sunshine today with highs

of 1a degrees. this evening under the night the weather front six south and east, the planned building i had a bit but it should stay dry with clear skies across the far south—east and here, locally, temperatures could fall away to —2 syllable see a touch of frost first thing in the morning but not so anywhere else. tomorrow the weather fronts continued theirjourney pushing south and east taking the rain with them. it should brighten later in the day for northern ireland and western scotland. for the south—east, having started dry with sunshine, we find as these fronts approach the cloud built in the sunshine will turn hasty. the temperatures tomorrow we are looking at roughly 11 and 13 degrees. as we move from wednesday into thursday, this weather front will be with us, slowly moving into the north sea taking the rain with that but lingering across the northern isles and that will be quite windy during

thursday in shetland. behind it, high pressure establishing itself, showers and a lot of dry weather in the west but some on the showers in the west but some on the showers in the south—east could be heavy and thundery. as we may through thursday into good friday and easter weekend, high pressure becomes ensconced across the country, we have weather fronts dry to bump and against it on saturday and they might bring some patchy rain during saturday to the far north—west. but most of us will stay dry on saturday and on easter sunday but it looks like more of us will see some rain on easter monday.

finland will officially become a member of nato later on tuesday. a passenger train crash in the netherlands kills one person and at least 30 people are �*seriously injured' london city becomes the second uk airport to scrap rules on liquid limits in hand luggage. and australia bans tiktok on all government—owned devices because of safety concerns. finland is set to become the 31st member of nato later on tuesday, completing a historic security policy shift.