district court in dc on thursday, after he was indicted for a third time on tuesday. this time in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the january 6th attack on the us capitol. he's denied all wrongdoing. the trump campaign says mr trump will deliver remarks on tuesday next week in new hampshire, continuing his efforts to fundraise off of his criminal charges. our correspondent nomia iqbal is outside the court for more on what we can expect. donald trump is due to appear behind us on thursday. we understand that he has the option to appear either virtually or in person. that was granted in the last two arraignments. we also understand that thejudge will decide which one it is. but given that mr trump has appeared in person for the last two, it is probably likely that he will appear in person for this indictment. he tends to use them, as we've seen previously, as part of his campaign.

and we are seeing his republican allies really rally around him. and in some ways, they are ramping up the rhetoric to defend him. some of them are calling for the special prosecution's investigation to be defunded. they are saying that donald trump can't get a fair trial in dc. of course, it's being held here, the scene of the alleged crime because it is a left—leaning city. they refer to it as "the swamp". but remember, donald trump's second indictment, which is in florida. the trial will take place there. florida is his home state. it's also a republican—leaning state, and it's one that he won twice in the last two presidential elections. the former president is facing four federal criminal charges in this indictment, including: conspiracy to defraud the united states, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.

the indictment also mentions six alleged co—conspirators, but none of them have been charged. the group, includes four attorneys, a former department ofjustice official and a political consultant, that allegedly aided trump's "criminal efforts". analysts believe they are former trump lawyers rudy giuliani, john eastman, and sidney powell, along with former doj official jeffrey clark and lawyer kenneth chesebro. a sixth co—conspirator, described in the document as a political consultant, has not been identified. earlier my colleague carl nasman spoke with former trump white house lawyer ty cobb on the uphill legal battle the former president is facing. thank you for coming on to speak with us. you've actually called the evidence in the former president's classified documents case "overwhelming". i'm sure you've taken a look now at this indictment. what's your assessment of the evidence here in this case? 50. your assessment of the evidence here in this case?— here in this case? 50, i think this case _ here in this case? 50, i think this case is _ here in this case? 50, i think this case is equally _ this case is equally overwhelming. you know, prosecutors are a little bit

like artists in the sense that they have stylement jack smith's style is to put together a detailed narrative that a layperson can understand, that condenses complex matters into much more simple terms that can be easily understood. so that's what you see in both the mar—a—lago case and in this case. and he details the facts that support the four criminal charges with great clarity. makes frequent use of references to the vice—president, the chief of staff, the attorney—general. all people who will end up

being forceful and significant witnesses at a trial. it’s witnesses at a trial. it's interesting _ witnesses at a trial. it's interesting as _ witnesses at a trial. it's interesting as well, - witnesses at a trial. it's interesting as well, because you are a former white house lawyer for donald you are a former white house lawyerfor donald trump. you are a former white house lawyer for donald trump. given those insights, how do you think his current legal team will be able to mount its defense in this indictment? what's their strategy here? well, one of trump's difficulties is following the instructions of his lawyers. the mar—a—lago case is an excellent example in the sense that i'm sure that evan corcoran advised the former president not to destroy, hide or otherwise impair the documents associated with the requests by the fbi and the related subpoenas. and he went behind his lawyers' backs and co—ordinated with mar—a—lago personnel to have them move

boxes — it's on tape. and then return fewer boxes after the fbi left. so, that's a clear indication of a president who has difficulty following his lawyer's advice. particularly when he thinks his self interest... when he thinks his self interest. . ._ when he thinks his self interest... , . ., , interest... just curious, as one of his _ interest. .. just curious, as one of his former- interest... just curious, as one of his former lawyers, i interest... just curious, as - one of his former lawyers, how do you deal with a situation like that?— do you deal with a situation like that? �* ., ., ., like that? so, i'm not one of his former— like that? so, i'm not one of his former lawyers. - like that? so, i'm not one of his former lawyers. i - like that? so, i'm not one of his former lawyers. i never. his former lawyers. i never represented him personally. my allegiance was to the constitution and the white house as an institution. he did have personal lawyers who worked on the matter that i worked on the matter that i worked on, but there is a distinction between white house counsel and his personal lawyers. but i did advise him with regard to the demands and interests of the special counsel's office and strategies for responding honourably to get through that process which

we ultimately did successfully by demonstrating there was no there, there. it's very difficult when a client will not follow advice. and you've seen countless lawyers resign or be fired by this president, former president. and you've seen the great difficulty that he's had building a legal team. he's now got multiple lawyers for multiple cases. that's not ideal. it would be better to have a hardcore set of lawyers managing everything so that there would be no slip—ups. but it is perilous if you're a client to ignore your lawyer's advice, and he does it routinely. i advice, and he does it routinely.— advice, and he does it routinely. advice, and he does it routinel . , ., ., ., routinely. i 'ust want to ask ou routinely. i 'ust want to ask you now. _ routinely. i just want to ask you now, while _ routinely. i just want to ask you now, while we - routinely. i just want to ask you now, while we still - routinely. i just want to ask| you now, while we still have routinely. i just want to ask i you now, while we still have a bit of time here. there was a new detail — much of what was in the indictment was already publicly known from the january 6 investigation. but we now

know that vice—president mike pence took some notes of his conversations with the president at the time, donald trump. what role do you think the vice—president, mike pence, might play in terms of this case? �* ., i. might play in terms of this case? �* ., ., case? so i'm glad you asked that question. _ case? so i'm glad you asked that question. i— case? so i'm glad you asked that question. i think - case? so i'm glad you asked that question. i think the . that question. i think the vice—president's conduct throughout this investigation has been misrepresented. it's suggested that he was forced to testify. he was never forced to testify. he was never forced to testify. he was never forced to testify. he had two constitutional issues that he had to raise as a matter of democracy so the courts could resolve them. but he never hesitated to testify once the court decided that the questions involving his dual capacity as a legislator when he was certifying the election and his vice—presidency was not and his vice—presidency was not a significant enough

distinction to prevent the grand jury from receiving his testimony. he went in and immediately testified fully. it's clear from the indictment, the references testimony frequently. and it's also clear that his testimony is quite damning for the former president. mil damning for the former president.— damning for the former resident. �* , ., , , ., president. all right, tycobb, a former trump _ president. all right, tycobb, a former trump administration | former trump administration lawyer, thank you very much for your insights. the indictment comes as mr trump is leading the polls for the republican nominee for president, far ahead of his leading rival florida governor ron desantis. the latest new york times sienna poll puts trump in a head to head with incumbant democratic presidentjoe biden. if the election were today, the polls show biden claiming 43% of registered voters. tying with former president trump who also sits right at 43%. earlier i asked pollster and communication strategist frank luntz for his thoughts on republican voters as we inch closer to the start of the primary season. frank, great to have you back on the bbc. you have been

speaking with republican voters around this indictment on the january 6 investigation. what have you found? i january 6 investigation. what have you found?— have you found? i found that the 're have you found? i found that they're willing _ have you found? i found that they're willing to _ have you found? i found that they're willing to give - have you found? i found that they're willing to give him i have you found? i found that they're willing to give him a| they're willing to give him a pass. that they're willing to... they see this as victimization. they see this as persecution. and in fact, what ifound is persecution. and in fact, what i found is that every time he gets indicted, his numbers go up. every time he's accused of something that would destroy any other candidate, he becomes more popular. and the same thing seems to be happening right now. he's coming across as standing up to the government, standing up to washington, and it's making him stronger and stronger at a time when everyone else would have cut and run. when everyone else would have cut and run-— when everyone else would have cut and run. how do you explain that, frank? — cut and run. how do you explain that, frank? what _ cut and run. how do you explain that, frank? what makes - cut and run. how do you explain that, frank? what makes that l that, frank? what makes that message from the former president so effective with his base, with voters?— president so effective with his base, with voters? they connect to him. base, with voters? they connect to him- and _ base, with voters? they connect to him. and they _ base, with voters? they connect to him. and they have _ base, with voters? they connect to him. and they have since - base, with voters? they connect to him. and they have since the| to him. and they have since the very beginning. i watched this in 2015, that the more you criticize him, the stronger he

got. president more you challenge him for his language, for his behavior, for things that would disqualify anyone else. for calling people "cowards", for insulting them and using epitats that would get someone in the bbc fired. every time trump went higher and higher. they think he's authentic. they think that he fights for hill. —— them. and that's the key, republicans thinks that donald trump speaks for them and that's how he's able to survive indictment after indictment after indictment. i5 after indictment after indictment.— after indictment after indictment. is there any concern _ indictment. is there any concern among - indictment. is there any concern among those i indictment. is there any - concern among those voters that he will be running an election campaign while going on trial in possibly four cases?- in possibly four cases? yes, there's concern. _ in possibly four cases? yes, there's concern. but - in possibly four cases? yes, there's concern. but not - in possibly four cases? yes, l there's concern. but not when it's put that way. when they have to consider four more years ofjoe biden — that's the moment that they freeze. that's the moment that they think —

maybe this isn't the right decision. and the second weakness for trump is that he says a lot, but he didn't deliver on many of the things that he said. he promised a wall that mexico would pay for. it never happened. he promised to repeal obamacare. it never happened. he promised to drain the swamp. we have higher wasteful washington spending than ever before. he promised to pay attention to the debt. it's out of control. on issue after issue, his rhetoric is dead—centre for activist republicans, but the record is not as good as the rhetoric. if you look at the latest new york times sienna polls, they show thatjoe biden and donald trump are neck and neck at about 43% for voters when asked about the choice for president. what do you make of that? find choice for president. what do you make of that?— choice for president. what do you make of that? and the same oll has you make of that? and the same poll has donald _ you make of that? and the same poll has donald trump _ you make of that? and the same poll has donald trump at - you make of that? and the same poll has donald trump at over. poll has donald trump at over 50% against all of the other republican, potential

republican, potential republican nominees. it defies gravity. it defies common—sense. but people need to start to consider the absolute at theial fact that donald trump could —— potential fact that donald trump could return. and what the consequences of that means for the country. i5 consequences of that means for the country-— the country. is there anything that the remember _ the country. is there anything| that the remember republican candidates could do to breakthrough?- candidates could do to breakthrou~h? , , breakthrough? yes. i believe that 'ust breakthrough? yes. i believe that just delivering _ breakthrough? yes. i believe that just delivering attack - thatjust delivering attack doesn't work. and having researched this, so you speak of trump's promises, and being able to deliver what donald trump promised — "i can get it done. i can make this happen. i know how to do this." and, "i will never weaponise government the way the democrats are

weaponising government." not taking a position on any of this. but that language absolutely works. as of now, no—one is using it and donald trump still has the language of the republican base, which is why he's so popular. [30 the republican base, which is why he's so popular.- why he's so popular. do you think that — why he's so popular. do you think that donald _ why he's so popular. do you think that donald trump - why he's so popular. do youj think that donald trump can why he's so popular. do you - think that donald trump can win a general election?— a general election? yes, i do. i never would _ a general election? yes, i do. i never would have _ a general election? yes, i do. i never would have said - a general election? yes, i do. i never would have said this . i never would have said this nine months ago. i would have said that it was absolutely impossible. but i'll be candid with you. i didn't see january 6. i didn't see election day 2020. i could not imagine that things that no american could ever perceive as happening to the country has happened. and trump refuses to fall. there is a lesson here in perseverance. it may not be a good lesson. but you only fail, you only lose if you give up. and if we've learned anything about donald trump — he never, ever gives up. donald trump - he never, ever gives urn-— gives up. frank, thank you so much for _ gives up. frank, thank you so much for your _ gives up. frank, thank you so much for your insights - gives up. frank, thank you so

much for your insights today. | new information coming in about the situation in niger. us secretary of state blink antony blinken has spoken to the leader there. blinken has spoken to the leaderthere. he blinken has spoken to the leader there. he told them that the us is committed to restoring niger's democratically elected government and that they're dedicated to finding a peaceful resolution that ensures that niger is a partner in security and develop: mr blinken's call comes as tensions rise between west african nationsment on tuesday night, nigeria cut off the supply of electricity to niger. it accounts for 70% of the country's power. the world bank said that it suspended aid to niger. and in a meeting, defense ministers from countries in the west african regional bloc, ecowas, looked at using force adding that they would only do so as a last

resort. the leader of niger's coup flew to the capital to meet with the leader who seized power there in 2021. mali and burkina faso, which is also ruled by a militaryjunta, ruled by a militaryjunta, ruled that any use of would constitute a declaration of war against their countries as well. on wednesday night, the united states said that it would evacuate its nationals from the country. paris has confirmed it evacuated nearly 1,000 people, including 560 french citizens after its embassy came under attack from demonstrators on sunday. in a televised address in the last few hours, nige e's self appointed military leader insisted french nationals had nothing to fear, but insisted that his government would not give in to regional or international pressure to reinstate nige refreshing a elected leader. translation: at the national council for _ translation: at the national council for the _ translation: at the national council for the safeguard - translation: at the national council for the safeguard of. council for the safeguard of the homeland rejects the dissensions in their entirety and refuses to give into any

pressure from any quarter. we reject any interference in the internal affairs of our country and reject the claims by some and reject the claims by some and others to punish the national council for the safeguarding of the homeland and the people of niger, as an example. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. voice-over: bbc, bringing you different stories - from across the uk. this was the 22nd year of pride in hull. it's nice being able to celebrate and be open and dress up and really be proud. what does pride mean to you? notjust accepting but celebrating the differences in the world. you can tell that hull really is a good place to celebrate pride. what does pride mean to you? being yourself. as far as the lgb or sexual orientation aspects of it goes,

a lot of movement has happened. there is an awful lot more work to be done and in identifying what can be done for our trans community. organisers say they hope that by walking with transgender groups it'll mean even more people listen to their message. voice-over: for more - stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. china has suffered its heaviest rainfall since records began 140 years ago. the country has been hit by devastating flooding including in and around the capital of beijing. at least 20 people have died, more than 20 are still missing, and tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. state media report that more than 9,000 rescuers have already been dispatched to hard hit zhuozhou where one—sixth of the 134,000 residents have been evacated.

—— evacuated. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from hebei province. strands and residents are finally getting out. they have had no electricity and no drinking water is the flood rose around them. emergency teams have been entering the submerged town by treating roads as rivers. this is the staging post for the rescue of people who have been stuck in zhuozhou. people who have been stuck in zhuozhom— people who have been stuck in zhuozhou. , , ., , zhuozhou. these boats have been crucial because _ zhuozhou. these boats have been crucial because all— zhuozhou. these boats have been crucial because all of _ zhuozhou. these boats have been crucial because all of those - crucial because all of those flats that have been surrounded by water, it is the only way to reach them. official said they do not have enough boats but reinforcements are here and there are many boats coming in. people arriving at disaster shelters carrying only a few belongings. they may have had profession —— possessions destroyed at home but they are grateful to be saved translation: we brought nothing with us. we needed to get out to keep the baby safe. all of

the buildings around us were flooded. some of the second floor. we didn't expect there to be so much water. so floor. we didn't expect there to be so much water.- to be so much water. so we waited and _ to be so much water. so we waited and it _ to be so much water. so we waited and it went - to be so much water. so we waited and it went up - to be so much water. so we waited and it went up and i to be so much water. so we | waited and it went up and up and we were really scared. nearby we see an enormous dump of rubbish that has been carried down a raging river. fridges, tires and basketballs. spongy flooring perhaps from a preschool, enough timber to build quite a few houses and life preservers. what strikes you is the sheer volume of material. it does make you think that this flood must have been so powerful to have delivered this much material right here in one go. the worst of the flooding may now be over but for places hit hard, they have a lot of cleaning up to do. some are still struck with the shocking forceful speed of this event. others are just getting on with it and wading

into the immediate future. steven mcdonnell, bbc news, hubei province. the gunman who murdered 11 people at a synagogue in the city of pittsburgh in 2018 has been sentenced to death. seven other people, including five police officers, were injured at the tree of life synagogue five years ago. the ruling by the i2—member jury was unanimous. robert bowers was previously found guilty of all 63 charges stemming from the incident, considered the worst anti—semitic attack in american history. a family member of one of the victims spoke after the ruling. the final verdict in this case i feel relieved. the jury sat three months of horror and livered justice to my mom and everyone who was killed and everyone who was killed and everyone injured and everyone beyond. we everyone in'ured and everyone be ond. ~ ., �* ~ ., ., ., beyond. we don't know what to sa about beyond. we don't know what to say about the — beyond. we don't know what to say about the verdict _ beyond. we don't know what to say about the verdict because l say about the verdict because it is not— say about the verdict because it is not a _ say about the verdict because it is not a happy day. even at the and — it is not a happy day. even at the and i_ it is not a happy day. even at the and i don't think there was

a big _ the and i don't think there was a big gasper or anything. you just — a big gasper or anything. you just its— a big gasper or anything. you just... it's in your heart and you — just... it's in your heart and you just _ just... it's in your heart and you just have to take it in. in other news online marketplace etsy says it will change its policy after sellers complained of money being held. the u—turn comes after the bbc reported that some sellers had 75 percent of their money frozen for 45 days. etsy said it was "substantially decreasing" the amount of money it would put on hold but did not state the new rate or time frame. the pope says the catholic church needs a "humble and ongoing purification" in response to victims claims of clerical abuse. the pontiff met 13 of the thousands of victims known to have been sexually abused by priests in the portuguese roman catholic church. pope francis acknowledged this meant many people now viewed the church with "disappointment and anger". windsor castle's round tower reopens on thursday for the first time since before lockdown. for a limited time visitors will get a chance to climb the tower�*s 200 steps to get to its roof and take

in the views of castle's grounds and london. the round tower will only be open during august and september. our royal correspondent, daniela relph, has more. within the grounds of windsor castle, the round tower looms large. dating back to 1170, it's had some upgrades over the years, but had to close during the covid lockdown. now the doors are open again for those of us who can face the 200 steps to the very top. much of what you see inside hasn't been touched in centuries. the wooden roof has been here since the 11t00s. and you'll get up close to the sebastopol bell. installed during the reign of queen victoria, it's only ever rung following the death of the monarch. as you emerge on to the lower parapet, you're around halfway up. you'll get a chance to pause and take in the signs of the fortress that this tower once was.

it's at this point on the climb up that visitors are told to put their phones and their cameras away. photos are banned because, beyond the castle walls are the royal family's private apartments. there are now 100 steps to go, up the narrower spiral staircase. if you're nervous of heights, maybe don't look down. as we head to the highest point, the top of the tower, 65m up. on a clear day, the views are spectacular. the expanse of the long walk through windsor great park is more impressive from up here. and as you do the circuit around the rooftop, you can also peer down into the grounds of the castle itself. here, the lower ward around st george's chapel. and take a look around the corner, you'll see the river thames as well as eton. tell us, do you need a head for heights to

do this particular tour? it does help if you have a head for heights. however, i don't have a great head for heights, but people, when they get up here, are so wowed by what you can see, you actually forget about it. we don't call it conquer the towerfor nothing. there is so much detail to take in. you can look through the arrow slits put in to enhance the castle defences, and even look down through what were called the murder holes, designed to target any enemy below. these views are about offering visitors something different, a chance to see a part of the castle that isn't open to the public for most of the year, with a unique perspective over windsor. and if you time your climb just right, you'll find yourself with a special look at the changing of the guard. this is a tour which gives you a bird's—eye view of british history. daniela relph, bbc news,

the round tower, windsor. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. wednesday's weather did not look or feel particularly summer—like across large swathes of the uk, thanks to an area of low pressure, this swirl of cloud on the satellite picture. this was named storm patricia by the french weather service because of impacts it had in france, but particularly on the southern flank of that storm system, we've had some very strong winds. there have been some really heavy downpours, but that area of low pressure is now rolling away eastwards. in its wake, though, we're going to be left with a brisk northerly wind, which will make it feel decidedly cool over the next couple of days. that cool breeze a big feature of thursday's weather, a mix of sunny spells and showers. some quite large areas of cloud, particularly across northern parts of scotland, where we will see some bits and pieces of rain. but for southern scotland,

northern ireland, england and wales, it's a mixed bag — some spells of sunshine, some showers, some of which will be heavy and thundery. but there will be places that avoid the showers and stay just about dry. temperatures ranging from 1a degrees in stornoway to 22 in london. and then as we head through thursday night, we will continue to see some of these showers. some clear spells here and there. i think out west, it will be mostly dry by the end of the night. temperatures typically holding up at between 11 and 1a degrees. so we head into friday, still feeling the effects of that northerly breeze. some spells of sunshine, some showers too. this time, those showers mostly across central and eastern parts of england. the odd heavy thundery one. elsewhere, more in the way of dry weather, although we will see cloud filling the sky across northern ireland later in the day ahead of this next weather system. and temperatures 16 to 20 degrees at best. and then let me show you what happens on saturday, because this area of low pressure is going to push its way in from the atlantic, the fourth weekend in a row dominated by low pressure.

this one quite a deep affair. a bout of heavy rain, could well be some thunder and some lightning mixing in. northern scotland likely to avoid it, but some wet weather elsewhere and the potential for gales, particularly around some western coasts. and with the cloud, the rain, the strength of the wind, temperatures really will struggle — 1a to 18 degrees. we would expect temperatures higher than that at this point in early august. but as we look further ahead into the middle part of next week, there are some signs that things could turn a bit drier and warmer.

global markets slide after fitch cuts its top credit rating for the united states. the treasury head called the move unwarranted. and as winter bites australia, many continue to struggle with the rise of energy bills, putting the pressure hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm monica miller. we start on wall street this morning.

after us stocks closed lower on wednesday, joining the rest of the global markets. this after ratings agency, fitch stripped america of its highest credit rating. the firm cited a growing debt burdon and an erosion of governance that has manifested multiplied many times in debt limit stand—offs. michelle fleury reports. just like everybody has a credit report to determine how much they can borrow, the us government has its own credit report, and for the first time since 2011, that rating has been downgraded from aaa to aa+. fitch said that the assault on the capitol onjanuary 6 was a factor in the decision, contributing to what they perceive as a steady deterioration of standards of governance over the last 20 years. from wall street to washington, reaction was swift. us markets tumbled with tech stocks leading the nasdaq lower, while bond investments pushed up treasury yields higher. in washington, treasury secretary janet yellen reacted with anger.

i strongly disagree with fitch's decision,