live from washington, this is bbc news. we hear from donald we hearfrom donald trump for the first time since pleading not guilty to charges in new york. ., , . ., york. the only crime that i have committed _ york. the only crime that i have committed is - york. the only crime that i have committed is to - york. the only crime that i - have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. hello. i'm sumi somaskanda. welcome to our show. donald trump has made his first public comments after becoming the first former us president to ever face criminal charges. this was the scene in mar—a—lago in florida. he arrived there after pleading not guilty to sa criminal charges

at a court hearing in new york. he's accused of falsifying business records. here is some of what he's said. the only crime that i have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. (cheering) from the beginning the democrats spied on my campaign. do you remember that? they attacked me with an onslaught of fraudulent investigations, russia, prussia, russia, ukraine, ukraine, ukraine. impeachment hopes number one, impeachment notes number two. the illegal and unconstitutional raid on mar—a—lago, right here.

(booing) they're lying to the department ofjustice, the department of justice, the unconstitutional changes department ofjustice, the unconstitutional changes to election laws by not getting approvals from state legislators. the millions of votes — legislators. the millions of votes illegally stuffed into ballot _ votes illegally stuffed into ballot boxes and all court on government cameras. and ballot boxes and all court on government cameras. and now in collusion with _ government cameras. and now in collusion with twitter _ government cameras. and now in collusion with twitter and - collusion with twitter and facebook in order not to say anything bad about the hunter biden laptop from hell, exposing the boden family as criminals and which according to the posters would have made a 17 point difference in the election result. —— biden family. and we needed a lot less than that, like about 16.9%. it would have been in ourfavour 16.9%. it would have been in our favour because our country is going to hell. we have been talking about this all evening with our guests

here in the studio, are you a special correspondent, katty kay, and bryan lanza, former communications director en donald trump's transition team. welcome back to all of you. i want to start with you and ask you, we heard donald trump list the grievances that he is based in the past, but that he was looking very much forward, and as we heard and said in the studio to note it felt like a campaign speech. it looks like we may have lost our connection to stephanie rawling—blake. we will try to get that up and running, but i put the question to our guests. bryan lanza, again, it looked like this was the first step in the campaign path ahead for donald trump? it

was a speech, a list of the grievances he has had for a number of years. he gets to add a new one today. maybe he gets to add a couple more. but i generally think the theme is that it generally think the theme is thatitis generally think the theme is that it is the dc sort of swamp, you know, corrupt system thatis swamp, you know, corrupt system that is against him, and he had his voters need to fight for than ever. and i think there will be the theme, that we need to fight more than ever between now and the primaries. stephanie, if you can hear is now, we're talking about what we had from donald trump at mar—a—lago tonight and the fact that this really felt like against —— felt like a campaign speech. against -- felt like a campaign seech. , , ., speech. interesting is a looking _ speech. interesting is a looking forward, - speech. interesting is a i looking forward, because speech. interesting is a - looking forward, because it definitely sounds like a campaign speech but it sounded more like a looking backward. he is rehashing a lot of the things that he has been talking about before, shamefully talking about the election, you doco being stolen from him, illegal votes that he knows is not true, talking about the

hunter biden laptop, talking about his previous cases before the senate. i would hope is the president he would looking forward but he seems to spend a lot of time looking back. what lot of time looking back. what was our lot of time looking back. what was your sense, _ lot of time looking back. what was your sense, katty - lot of time looking back. what was your sense, katty kay? i l was your sense, katty kay? i think the question of how he carries forward into the next election campaign, just to make grievances, most republicans i've spoken to, and i think that bryan would agree with that bryan would agree with that don't think that that is a particularly strong strategy for income of the election. speculating on what this means that the 2024 election and everybody is interested in that, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this was an historic day. donald trump became the first american president orformer became the first american president or former president to be ever taken into custody, arrested, effectively, and the new york courthouse, and charged with criminal charges.

that is unprecedented in american politics. the challenge south of this country and for the democrats and republicans is how the district attorney's offers deals with this to the degree to which they can separate out the legitimate, judicial proceeding thatis legitimate, judicial proceeding that is not seem to be political, from clearly the trump campaign and donald trump's supporters and a lot of republics are saying is purely a witch—hunt. —— republicans are saying. a witch-hunt. -- republicans are saying-— a witch-hunt. -- republicans are saying. will this hangovers had for the _ are saying. will this hangovers had for the rest _ are saying. will this hangovers had for the rest of _ are saying. will this hangovers had for the rest of the? - are saying. will this hangovers had for the rest of the? i - had for the rest of the? i think it is hard for an arrest not to be hanging over anybody�*s had. as a president it has not been done. we are in uncharted waters. anyone who says they know how this will turn out, don't trust them, because they don't. we have never been here before. this is chaos. never been here before. this is chaos- the _ never been here before. this is chaos. the chaos _ never been here before. this is chaos. the chaos theory - never been here before. this is chaos. the chaos theory of - chaos. the chaos theory of government. _ chaos. the chaos theory of government. sometimes l chaos. the chaos theory of. government. sometimes cows works, government. sometimes cows works. you — government. sometimes cows works. you get _ government. sometimes cows works, you get the _ government. sometimes cows works, you get the other- government. sometimes cows works, you get the other side | works, you get the other side of balance, and other times it bites — of balance, and other times it bites you _ of balance, and other times it bites you in the rear. we will have — bites you in the rear. we will have ups _ bites you in the rear. we will have ups and downs between now

and the _ have ups and downs between now and the election. —— sometimes chaos — and the election. —— sometimes chaos. lt— and the election. -- sometimes chaos. , . , and the election. -- sometimes chaos. , ., , chaos. it is an uphill battle. something _ chaos. it is an uphill battle. something we _ chaos. it is an uphill battle. something we have - chaos. it is an uphill battle. something we have notices| chaos. it is an uphill battle. - something we have notices that the democrats have been quiet and president biden hasn't commented it all. do you think he would uses on the campaign job when he does announce, as we expect he will announce? i hope that president biden and all the leading democrats let the — let former president trump crash and burn on the side of the road by himself without any comment. i think there is going to be enough comment from pundits on all the networks talking about this, you know, i hope president biden stays focused on his job. that is what he is therefore. that is what he is therefore. that is what the american people overwhelmingly put him in office to do. we need someone focus on the future, not rehashing past. —— megatron. with the leading

democrats in the senate or the house the exact same thing. —— there for. the democrats have an opportunity to show the public how they can move forward and lead and govern while the republicans are basically, i think my swelling down the drain with former president tran.— down the drain with former president tran. ok. we want to talk a little _ president tran. ok. we want to talk a little bit _ president tran. ok. we want to talk a little bit about _ president tran. ok. we want to talk a little bit about what - talk a little bit about what donald trump is facing, so we will turn to the analysis editor ros atkins, who has been looking at the charges against donald trump and the consequences if he is found guilty. take a look. donald trump has faced an array of criminal investigations before, but he had never been charged. that has changed. in his case, new york district attorney alvin bragg alleges that donald trump "repeatedly and fraudulently falsified new york business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election."

and has brought 34 criminal charges relating to that. in court donald trump pleaded not guilty to all of them. and all of these charges, we believe, connect to an alleged payment to stephanie clifford. she's a former porn star, better known as stormy daniels, and she says she and donald trump had an affair in 2006, something he denies. next, trump's then lawyer, michael cohen, becomes part of the story. just before the 2016 presidential election, he paid stormy daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about the affair. doing so isn't illegal in america. but after donald trump personally reimbursed michael cohen, the payment was recorded as being for legal fees. prosecutors argue this constitutes the illegal falsification of business records. to reiterate, donald trump denies this. but what could happen if he were found guilty? based on these charges, a fine is by far the most likely outcome. prison is possible

but not likely. and as i tell you all of this, you may be thinking, can trump still run for president? well, yes is the answer. being charged with these crimes doesn't change that, nor would being convicted. though of course both scenarios may impact his campaign. and donald trump has other legal worries too. the fbi continues to investigate his handling of classified documents found at his mar—a—lago home in florida. there's a justice department investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including the capitol riots. though it's not clear if mr trump is a focus. and in georgia, there's a criminal investigation into whether donald trump interfered in the 2020 election result there. so these charges in new york are a moment of legal and politicaljeopardy for donald trump. and there may be more of those moments to come.

so you are talking about the fact that it is hard not for an arrest to be hanging over your head, katty. what about these other investigations, very serious investigation facing donald trump?— serious investigation facing donald trump? most of the la ers donald trump? most of the lawyers and _ donald trump? most of the lawyers and republicans i l donald trump? most of the . lawyers and republicans i have spoken to have said that these other investigations still ongoing are potentially more serious for donald trump. and we could see firstly, we don't know if there are indictments, but it could be an indictment in one or more of those cases, the fact that there has been a new york indictment doesn't mean there won't be in the other cases, and we could possibly see one of those cases come to trial, particularly the mar—a—lago documents case, even before the one we have seen —— even the one —— even before the one we have seen today comes to court. so the question is how long can he spin this as a witch—hunt against him versus it being potentially damaging

for him, and now there has been all of the attention focused on this very first case, does that mean that there will be less media attention on any subsequent cases, whether to be subsequent cases, whether to be subsequent cases, even if those cases are potentially more serious, just because we have seen this before, it is no longer the first time. bryan what do you _ longer the first time. bryan what do you think? - longer the first time. bryan what do you think? from i longer the first time. bryan i what do you think? from your conversations with friends and colleagues how worried is the trunk— colleagues how worried is the trunk campaign? it gives a lot of pores _ trunk campaign? it gives a lot of pores. the boxes, what they call boxgate, they give them insecurity. but they have been through — insecurity. but they have been through this before. —— pause. they— through this before. —— pause. they been_ through this before. —— pause. they been through this before. there — they been through this before. there will be links between now and theft — there will be links between now and then. but they feel that this kabuki dance of this high drama — this kabuki dance of this high drama that we do has or has benefited them and this will 'ust benefited them and this will just be _ benefited them and this will just be another example of it.

stephanie, what is your thought on this? could this indictment muddy the waters for the other investigations that donald trump is facing? i investigations that donald trump is facing?— investigations that donald trump is facing? i don't think it will muddy _ trump is facing? i don't think it will muddy the _ trump is facing? i don't think it will muddy the waters - trump is facing? i don't think it will muddy the waters for l it will muddy the waters for the other investigations. it might distract some people from the seriousness of these charges. what it is muddying is the republican primary. with these cases, notjust the the republican primary. with these cases, not just the first one but all of the others that we know are coming up, it will make it very difficult for any real challenger to get a strong footing because donald trump well, you know, he is sucking up well, you know, he is sucking up all of the air in the room at every turn. so i think the republican primary, that is definitely what is getting muddy in this.— definitely what is getting mudd in this. . , . muddy in this. katty we have been focus — muddy in this. katty we have been focus on _ muddy in this. katty we have been focus on donald - muddy in this. katty we have been focus on donald trump| been focus on donald trump here, but when will other possible contenders from the republican nominations for the presidency filibeck garden alem

and criticise the former president? what does the picture look great father republicans? it picture look great father republicans?— picture look great father republicans? it is 'ust the de . ree republicans? it is 'ust the degree to h republicans? it is 'ust the degree to which _ republicans? it isjust the degree to which the - republicans? it is just the | degree to which the entire degree to which the entire degree of the party have road around him and said this is overreach. mitt romney voted twice after the impeachment trials of donald trump saying that he felt that this was a stress too far. nobody at least in the short run will feel that they can criticise donald trump in the context of this conversation, but how do they pivot to criticising him as a candidate they are running against if they don't take on this legal challenges. we had run dissenters raising talk about the fact that this was hush money payment to a former porn star, but he has rode back on that. —— ron desantis. he sees a reaction from the donald trump world and says he can't say anything that makes it look like he is criticising donald trump, and i think that will be

the short—term strategy at least. i think this particular story will die down reasonably fast is because there isn't another hearing until december. and court cases where you can't see anything and hear anything i'm massively interesting television.— i'm massively interesting television. , ~ television. do you still think that this could _ television. do you still think that this could undermine . television. do you still think- that this could undermine other candidates?— candidates? there will be no ox ten candidates? there will be no oxygen from _ candidates? there will be no oxygen from a _ candidates? there will be no oxygen from a to _ candidates? there will be no oxygen from a to get - candidates? there will be no oxygen from a to get any - candidates? there will be no i oxygen from a to get any other coverage, so sort of forces you to do pay—per—view which is expensive and you burn through cash, so it will be harder and it is other candidates to break out. until, and speaking to the trunk campaign, and we're sort of lucky that the da, the manhattan da went first, and not fulton county, because there is audio in fulton county. we'll be hearing that over and over again without hearing the manhattan da case, which i think everybody agrees is one of the weakest cases. i think it was a strategic error, but it fulton county goes

forward and there is audio that it will be repaid that will fill the gap in how people comment on it, that will be hard to ignore and that might be the time when you can probably criticise... tote be the time when you can probably criticise... we had the former _ probably criticise... we had the former day _ probably criticise... we had the former day denied - probably criticise... we had the former day denied it i probably criticise... we had l the former day denied it was perfect. —— the former president say it was perfect. stephanie, just getting your thoughts on that and the rest of the field and the republican candidates? i think the republican field is very nervous right now. i know someone who has been in campaigns close to 40 years, since i was a child, you have all of these people who look to these presidential elections as their big opportunity to run a campaign, to run a region, to work with volunteers and there is really not going to be any room for them unless donald

trump pulls out because right now he's getting all the attention, no—one else can even get a small mention. i feel, i guess, i almost feel sorry for the republican party because i feel there is so much more to the republican party than donald trump and we have been prevented from seeing that. thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me tonight. a very interesting conversation indeed. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you understand. they have that shared experience _ you understand. they have that shared experience of— you understand. they have that shared experience of life - you understand. they have that shared experience of life in - shared experience of life in the care system and they are put music. the album is yet to be completed but the project has already received a national award. ., ., ., , award. you have actually come this far. some _ award. you have actually come this far. some people - award. you have actually come this far. some people do - award. you have actually come this far. some people do not i this far. some people do not know how far you have actually came. , ., , , . ., came. they are 'ust such a treat came. they are 'ust such a great group _ came. they are 'ust such a great group of h came. they are just such a great group of young - came. they are just such a i great group of young people came. they are just such a - great group of young people and id great group of young people and go beyond my expectations. every — go beyond my expectations. every time i meet them. the other should be finished later on this year. you're live with bbc news. to china now, where french president emmanuel macron and eu commission president ursula von der leyen

are expected on wednesday for a three—day visit. they'll meet with chinese president xijinping and other top officials. last week, ursuala von der leyen made a speech where she said relations between the eu and beijing had become strained and that europe needed to "de—risk" diplomatically and economically with china. the comments were not taken well by chinese officials, prompting concerns about a proposed economic plan between the two sides. live now to mariko 0i in singapore. mariko walk us through the expectations for this meeting? president macron isn't landing today at around 3:30pm local time. ——is landing. it will be meeting by those affected by covid—19 restrictions. when he meets with chinese leaders tomorrow, there is of course a lot to discuss from trade to human rights to taiwan and of course russia's invasion of ukraine. for president macron,

who has been facing rather embarrassing protest at home, he is keen to push forward what is known as the cai, the comprehensive agreement on investment, which is in a god which if ratified would be citrate and relations between the eu and china. —— which is basically an accord. it could risk getting too close to china and might not go down too well but president macron has so far refrained from using strong anti— china rhetoric. it's a balancing act for the french president how is he expected to navigate this? and they need to take a tougher line with china?— line with china? absolutely, it is definitely _ line with china? absolutely, it is definitely a _ line with china? absolutely, it is definitely a tricky _ is definitely a tricky balancing act and what is interesting is a president

macron actually invited the president of the european commission on this trip, to project european unity, especially after french officials criticised the german chancellor for going solo to china last year. they want to persuade china to use its influence over russia to bring peace to ukraine. they have been accusations that china could be providing arms to russia which beijing deny. i do not think many are expecting a big breakthrough. hater not think many are expecting a big breakthrough.— big breakthrough. how will the rest of the _ big breakthrough. how will the rest of the west _ big breakthrough. how will the rest of the west be _ big breakthrough. how will the rest of the west be looking - big breakthrough. how will the rest of the west be looking at | rest of the west be looking at this visit, including the us? of course beijing has been of course beijing has been somewhat on a charm offensive, trying to separate the us and america. european leaders visiting china means washington will be closely watching the

tree. president macron had telephone conversation with president biden, according to the white house. this trip coincides with taiwan's president stopover when us house speaker has confirmed wanting to meet up. it could get a bit awkward for the french president has well. hagar french president has well. how rece tive french president has well. how receptive you — french president has well. how receptive you think _ french president has well. how receptive you think china is going to be with this visit? we know they been tensions? that is the big question _ know they been tensions? twat is the big question and i think what a lot of analysts will be closely watching but i think from china's point of view, welcoming those two leaders from europe is not a negative thing, especially when tensions in washington have been quite tense. a lot of experts are expecting them to be quite warm and towards president macron as well as ursuala von der leyen. thank you very much.

to brussels, where earlier on tuesday, nato welcomed finland into its security alliance — making it the 31st member. finland's accession doubles the length of member states' borders with russia and it's a setback for russian president vladimir putin. he had repeatedly complained of nato's expansion before his full—scale invasion of ukraine. 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale has more from brussels. a near perfect day at nato headquarters to welcome its newest member. finland only applied a year ago, soon after russia's invasion of ukraine. and approved in record time, despite moscow's warnings about nato expansion. this sends a clear message that every nation has the right to choose its own path. that nato's door remains open and no one can close it with force or coercion. welcome to the alliance. nato membership brings with it security guarantees.

an attack on one is seen as an attack on all. it is why ukraine wants tojoin nato. but for now, like these supporters, it has been kept outside. finland is also a neighbour of russia but until now avoided picking sides. the era of military non—alignment in our history has come to an end. a new era begins. finland brings with it a modern, well—equipped armed forces who have already trained with nato allies. they are small but they can also call on more than 200,000 reserves. but finland also creates a challenge. its border with russia stretches more than 800 miles. 0vernight, nato's frontier with russia has more than doubled and the alliance must be ready to defend it if threatened. the treaty that founded nato was signed on this day 74 years ago.

then there werejust 12 members. now there are 31, with the flag of finland the latest standing outside nato's headquarters. president putin, before the war in ukraine, said he wanted less of nato on his borders. but what he has ended up with is a lot more. russia's war in ukraine has dramatically altered european security in a way it never intended. today the kremlin denounced nato's move as an escalation but with its own forces tied down in a grinding war of attrition, it cannot prevent nato expansion. sweden is expected to join next. jonathan beale, bbc news, brussels. that is our show at this hour. we will be back with headlines at the top of the next hour. stay with us here on bbc news and do had to our website for

all the latest headlines. good to have you with us. hello there. at this time of year, with light winds and a little bit of shelter, you can just start to feel the strength of the sunshine, but clear skies overnight can still lead to substantial frost. we have —6 celsius in parts of 0xfordshire first thing on tuesday morning, lots of blue sky and sunshine stayed all day, and in kew gardens by the middle of the afternoon, 15 celsius was the high — very nice indeed. the story is changing, though, and it's because of these frontal systems that are pushing in from the north—west. the clearest of the skies over the next few hours will be in the south—east corner here. touch of light, frost possible,

but with outbreaks of rain developing and more cloud around, it is going to be a much milder start to the day. but there will be some wet weather around, moving its way out of scotland, pushing into northern england and across wales. showery rain to begin with, but another batch of wet weather will start to move in by the middle part of the afternoon. so, clouding over, but it should stay dry in east anglia for much of the day. highs here of 13 degrees. there'll be some showery outbreaks of rain and some heavier bursts pushing into wales and north—west england. a brighter afternoon, though, to close out the day in northern ireland and western scotland as the weather fronts start to drift their way steadily eastwards. still staying relatively mild for the time of year, that rain still has to clear away eastwards, and as it does so, well, we'll see clearer skies and temperatures will be a little bit lower out to the west by thursday morning. but thursday morning, we'll see that rain easing away, and then a little ridge of high pressure will slowly start to build in from the west and quieten things down. so, yes, a cloudy, grey start across eastern areas, a few scattered showers remaining as we go through the day, but an improving picture. there will be some

sunshine coming through. there will be some light winds still coming from a northwesterly direction on thursday, so that will make it feel just that little bit fresher. temperatures are likely to peak between 8—13 celsius. now, as we move out of thursday into the start of the long easter weekend, high pressure is set to build in for a couple of days at least. these weather fronts trying to push in from the atlantic, but they will take their time in doing so. so, not a bad start to the easter weekend — dry, settled and sunny before the risk of some rain arrives slowly but surely for easter sunday afternoon. take care.

this is bbc news. their headlines and all the news will be at the top of the hour, straight out of this programme. every year, thousands of migrants try to make their way to europe. as they leave their homelands behind them, the possessions they take with them give us a sense of who they are. remnants of a painful past or glimpses or a more hopeful future. some dedicated people on the italian island of lampedusa have saved some of those items. where are these people? where are they?