a report on election fraud next week. six former london metropolitan police officers are charged with sending racist whatsapp messages after a bbc newsnight investigation. two years since the taliban returned to power in aghanistan, there's severe hunger and a near—collapse of the health system — we have a special report. welcome to verified live — three hours of breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. we start with a major story here in the uk. three people have been arrested and charged, suspected of spying for russia. the two men and one woman — who are all bulgarian nationals — were detained in february. they have been remanded in custody since then and have now been charged with possessing fake security documents. it's alleged they were working for the russian security services.

our correspondent daniel de simone was at the old bailey criminal court and sent this update. they have been in the uk for between ten and 15 years, the three defendants are orlin roussev, bizer dzhambazov, and katrin ivanova. the latter two have been living as a couple in a series of suburban properties in london for about ten years. orlin roussev arrived earlier in the uk, about 15 years ago, and he worked in financial services, a technical role in communications, and later moved on to, he claims, own a company that was involved in signals intelligence, which involves the interception of communications. the other two worked, we're told, in health care jobs. that's what they told neighbours. they did own a local community group, which supported bulgarian people who move to the uk with english language classes and other things.

this investigation was, is by the met police counterterrorism team, which is response offer espionage investigations. it investigated them in february. properties in london and great yarmouth were searched. they were charged with possessing fake id documents including passports, identity cards, and other documents for nine different countries, and they have been remanded since february. they are going to be on trial here at the old bailey in london, and the trial is currently due to start injanuary next year. we can speak now to annie machon, former officer at mi5, the uk's domestic inelligence agency. it is good to have you with us this afternoon and to get your insight on the story.

it sounds like quite a peculiar case, three bulgarian nationals who are alleged to have had some involvement with working for the russian intelligence services. m0. russian intelligence services. no, it is very odd- _ russian intelligence services. mfr, it is very odd. normally, the sort of cases we hear about in the media tends to involve professional intelligence officers who are sent intelligence officers who are sent in and work under diplomatic cover at the embassy or a trade delegation or something like that. if they are caught out, they have diplomatic immunity so that they are quietly objected from the uk, not prosecuted. in this case, it sounds like three very low—level operatives, allegedly, i have to be careful because the case is now sub judice. the charges are very specific and only relate to these documents, allegedly, about fake ids and things like that. so one potential theory could be they were operating as a sort of support network. providing the sort of things for others who might be

working within the intelligence infrastructure is well. but on the little information we have at the moment, that is pure speculation and we have to wait for the trial in january to see what comes out if anything comes out of that. there is ve little anything comes out of that. there is very little detail _ anything comes out of that. there is very little detail and _ anything comes out of that. there is very little detail and it _ anything comes out of that. there is very little detail and it looks - anything comes out of that. there is very little detail and it looks so - very little detail and it looks so far like these three people have yet to enter a plea when it comes to these charges. but was reading the documents they are accused of possessing with improper intention include passports, id cards and other documents for a range of countries, the uk, bulgaria, france, italy, spain, croatia, slovenia, the list goes on. if you were still at mis, list goes on. if you were still at mi5, what would you be looking at when it comes to this? i mi5, what would you be looking at when it comes to this?— when it comes to this? i think this is auoin when it comes to this? i think this is going to — when it comes to this? i think this is going to be _ when it comes to this? i think this is going to be part— when it comes to this? i think this is going to be part of— when it comes to this? i think this is going to be part of a _ when it comes to this? i think this is going to be part of a far - when it comes to this? i think this is going to be part of a far wider i is going to be part of a far wider investigation already. they will have got a lot of information about who may they have been in contact with, who might they be selling

these ids too, whatever. one possibility, they might be operating as an illegal, of the box support network for those involved in espionage, that might be one possibility. and it is interesting they are bulgarian nationals and they are bulgarian nationals and they have been here for over decades, so prior to brexit. so as citizens of an eu member states, they would have had free movement across europe at that time. so i could see why people with that sort of profile might potentially be of interest to a hostile state who wants to spy on the uk. that's all ure wants to spy on the uk. that's all pure speculation. _ wants to spy on the uk. that's all pure speculation. very _ wants to spy on the uk. that's all pure speculation. very briefly, i wants to spy on the uk. that's all. pure speculation. very briefly, how significant do you read into the fact these people who are alleged to be involved in this currently, who have been arrested, that they are bulgarian? i have been arrested, that they are buluarian? ~ ., ., ., bulgarian? i think that would have rovided bulgarian? i think that would have provided ease _ bulgarian? i think that would have provided ease of _ bulgarian? i think that would have provided ease of access _ bulgarian? i think that would have provided ease of access in - bulgarian? i think that would have provided ease of access in terms l bulgarian? i think that would have | provided ease of access in terms of they are eu citizens who had free movement. but also, we need to be aware that the threat from russia over the last 15 years has been ramping up in the uk across a full

spectrum of threats both at the political level and intelligence gathering level and military level and everything and that has certainly accelerated since our very clear support of the ukrainian government post the russian invasion. so this is a major threat to uk interests and a growing threat. yes, just having a low—level case like this is going to refocus the minds of the intelligence agencies on the russian threat with the uk. ., , �* , agencies on the russian threat with theuk. ., , �*, ., ,. the uk. that is the uk's domestic eleaance the uk. that is the uk's domestic elegance agency _ the uk. that is the uk's domestic elegance agency that _ the uk. that is the uk's domestic elegance agency that used - the uk. that is the uk's domestic elegance agency that used to - the uk. that is the uk's domestic elegance agency that used to be. the uk. that is the uk's domestic| elegance agency that used to be a member of, mi5, thank you for sharing that story. let's bring you some pictures from northern ireland — and the town of omagh, where a memorial is taking place 25 years since the bombing there. in1998, 29 in 1998, 29 people were killed after

a bomb was planted by the real ira and there has been a service of memorial today at the library. people saying prayers, you can see family members as well laying flowers as well. at 3:10pm committee few minutes from now, that will the time the bomb detonated 25 years ago. so a time to remember those who lost their lives, 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins. today's memorial has been organised by the group called families moving on. following a public service on sunday in the town's memorial garden. so 25 years on, people are remembering the victims of the omagh bombing. donald trump is running for the white house again next year, but now he is facing a fourth set of criminal charges.

this time, he's accused of trying to overturn his defeat in the last presidential election in the state of georgia. the 13 counts against him include violating georgia's law on racketeering. he's also charged with conspiracy to commit forgery and with making false statements. he says the charges are politically motivated and, in the past few hours, has claimed that he would produce a report next week, on what he called the presidential election fraud in georgia. from washington, here's our correspondent sean dilley. hello, ma'am. thank you. this was the moment fulton county judge robert mcburney approved the grand jury�*s decision to indict donald trump and 18 alleged conspirators on racketeering charges — the same laws used to prosecute mob bosses. prosecutors say their investigation was in part prompted by this leaked call between the then president and georgia's top election official, brad raffensperger.

among donald trump's co—defendants, his former white house chief of staff mark meadows and his former attorneys rudy giuliani every individual charge in the indictment is charged with one count of violating georgia's racketeer—influenced and corrupt oganisations act, through participation in a criminal enterprise in fulton county, georgia, and elsewhere to accomplish the illegal goal of allowing donald] trump to thieve the presidential term of office beginning onjanuary 20th, '21. speaking ahead of the indictments, the trump campaign said the timing

of this latest coordinated strike by a biased prosecutor in an overwhelmingly democratic jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the american people, but also exposes true motivation driving their fabricated accusations. this is the fourth time the former president has been indicted. he's due to go on trial in new york next march charged over claims he used his business to hide hush money payments to a porn star. two months later, in may, he will stand trial in florida on espionage and obstruction charges over claims he held onto classified papers after leaving office. donald trump has already been charged by federal prosecutors in washington, dc over allegations he tried to cheat the 2020 election. a trial date has not been set. he denies all charges. every time they file an indictment, we go way up in the polls. we need one more indictment to close out this election, one more indictment and this

election is closed out. nobody has even a chance. applause that was donald trump speaking at a campaign rally in alabama. now he faces 91 counts in four separate criminal cases. all the accused have been given until noon on friday to hand sean dilley, bbc news, in washington. live now to our correspondent wyre davies in washington. take us through what might happen next now these charges have been laid. ., , ., , laid. donald trump and his co-defendants _ laid. donald trump and his co-defendants have - laid. donald trump and his co-defendants have been i laid. donald trump and his - co-defendants have been given just co—defendants have been givenjust over a week, a week on friday to surrender in legal terms and present themselves in georgia and to have those charges formally read out against them. the prosecutor has also said she would like to see a trial within about six months. and the interesting thing about that as it would full right in the middle of a presidential election campaign. it's not clear if a child can be

expedited that quickly given the other criminal cases against mr trump in washington and new york. but that was what the state prosecutor has said in georgia, it will be up to a judge to decide when a trial starts. but these are very serious charges, charges of racketeering, election meddling, there was that infamous phone call where donald trump pleaded with an election official in georgia to find 11,780 votes, a phone call that donald trump himself has described as just a normal, donald trump himself has described asjust a normal, instant phone call. so these are very serious charges, we don't know yet when a trial will start. i charges, we don't know yet when a trial will start.— trial will start. i was reading some ofthe trial will start. i was reading some of the evidence _ trial will start. i was reading some of the evidence that _ trial will start. i was reading some of the evidence that might - trial will start. i was reading some of the evidence that might be - trial will start. i was reading some| of the evidence that might be used against donald trump could include some of his tweets. but of course, we have been hearing from mr trump on his new social network truth social. he is denying these latest charges. but what more has he said? well, he has said, he has fronted this up, he thinks this is part of a

politically orchestrated campaign against him. he also believes that the more these charges, the more of these attainments that appear, the higher his poll ratings go. there is some truth to that, but there is evidence moderate voters might not back him in future if there were criminal convictions against him. —— the more indictments that appear. hardcore supporters will support him through thick and thin. in georgia, these are charges relating to accusations that happen specifically within the state of georgia, these are not federal us wide charges and the significance of that is if donald trump was elected again as us president and convicted in a federal court, he could theoretically absolve himself and pardon himself. that is not possible with these charges in the state of georgia. these are state and your —— state charges and the ability of donald trump to absolve himself if he were

convicted in georgia just is not possible, that could only be done in five years and donald trump could not do that straightaway. in some regards, that is the significance of what is happening in the state of georgia and while these charges in georgia, as serious as they are, perhaps very different to what is happening federally.— perhaps very different to what is happening federally. thank you very much. and happening federally. thank you very much- and at _ happening federally. thank you very much. and at the _ happening federally. thank you very much. and at the last _ happening federally. thank you very much. and at the last count, - happening federally. thank you very j much. and at the last count, donald trump now faces 91 charges. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at the other news making headlines. the children'scharity... a children's charity wants tech companies and mps to back the government's online safety bill, because of new research which shows the scale of online grooming. the nspcc says 42 police forces in england and wales recorded more than six thousand offences involving sexual communications with children last year. a ten—year—old girl found dead

at a house in surrey, has been named locally as sara sharif. her body was discovered at the property last thursday. the police say the three people they want to talk to were known to her and are now abroad. a post—mortem examination will take place this afternoon. the government has announced that 250—million pounds will be spent on an extra 5,000 nhs hospital beds in england this winter. ministers say 900 of the beds should be ready byjanuary, as part of efforts to help cut waiting lists, one of five priorities set out by rishi sunak. labour says the announcement is a 'sticking plaster�*. it is expected 30 nhs groups will benefit from this slice of funding. you are live with bbc news. six former metropolitan police officers have been charged with sending racist messages on whatsapp after an investigation by a bbc programme. last year, newsnight was passed

dozens of messages shared within the chat by a member of the group. some of the posts referenced the government's rwanda policy, while others joked about recent flooding in pakistan, which left almost 1,700 people dead. with more on this, let's speak to newsnight�*s uk editor, sima kotecha. sima, what more can you tell us? these charges have come after our investigation that took place last october. six men have been charged. at one point, they all worked for the metropolitan police and they were all part of a unit called the diplomatic protection group. it is now called the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command. they allegedly exchanged messages between 2018 and 2022. they were not serving at the time their participation in this group took place, says the met police. and in a press conference today, the largest force in britain says it follows an investigation by the director of standards which was launched following coverage by the bbc�*s newsnight programme in october

last year. the officers who have retired between 2001 and 2015 have been charged by post. they are scheduled to appear at westminster magistrates' court on the 7th of september, where they will enter a plea to these charges. and again, the commanderjames herman also adds to his statement, he leads the met�*s anti corruption and abuse command, as soon as we were made aware of these allegations, we launched an investigation. i am these allegations, we launched an investigation. iam pleased these allegations, we launched an investigation. i am pleased that following the determined work of officers, we have been able to secure these charges.- officers, we have been able to secure these charges. sima kotecha, thank ou secure these charges. sima kotecha, thank you for— secure these charges. sima kotecha, thank you for bringing _ secure these charges. sima kotecha, thank you for bringing us _ secure these charges. sima kotecha, thank you for bringing us up-to-date| thank you for bringing us up—to—date on that. today marks two years since the taliban takeover in afghanistan. the un says the country is experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, and has warned of a huge shortfall in funding amid a deepening economic crisis. women and girls have also faced severe restrictions since the taliban came to power,

including the banning of girls from secondary schools. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet has this special report. all ina all in a day's work. 1a hours of labour. this 13—year—old, his brother a year younger. their combined earnings, less than £1 a day, at this workshop in kabul. translation: it's day, at this workshop in kabul. translation:— day, at this workshop in kabul. translation: �* , , ' . ., translation: it's very difficult for me. it is translation: it's very difficult for me- it is such _ translation: it's very difficult for me. it is such heavy _ translation: it's very difficult for me. it is such heavy work. - translation: it's very difficult for me. it is such heavy work. but - translation: it's very difficult for me. it is such heavy work. but i - me. it is such heavy work. but i have no choice. i have to work to buy bread for my family. translation: mi buy bread for my family. tuna/mom— buy bread for my family. translation: �* , , ., translation: all the boys are -la in: translation: all the boys are playing outside- _ translation: all the boys are playing outside. i _ translation: all the boys are playing outside. i wish - translation: all the boys are playing outside. i wish i - translation: all the boys are playing outside. i wish i could l playing outside. i wish i could play, too. i pray my fatherfinds work so we can go back to school. that we can repay our debts and we won't have to work here. it is that we can repay our debts and we won't have to work here.— won't have to work here. it is the sto of won't have to work here. it is the story of so _ won't have to work here. it is the story of so many _ won't have to work here. it is the

story of so many families. - won't have to work here. it is the story of so many families. the i won't have to work here. it is the | story of so many families. the un says 84% of afghans are now borrowing moneyjust to buy food. it is tough being a kid in this country. this 12 year is waiting for her father. country. this 12 year is waiting for herfather. he works in country. this 12 year is waiting for her father. he works in this education centre. ——12—year—old. she dreams of becoming a doctor and she will still —— soon start grade six, her last year of school. unless the taliban reopen high schools for girls. translation: , , translation: it will destroy my ho es, translation: it will destroy my hopes. my _ translation: it will destroy my hopes, my dreams _ translation: it will destroy my hopes, my dreams and _ translation: it will destroy my hopes, my dreams and all- translation: it will destroy my hopes, my dreams and all my i translation: it will destroy my - hopes, my dreams and all my efforts and my studies, until grade six will become useless. the and my studies, until grade six will become useless.— and my studies, until grade six will become useless. the bread of life is their life. their _ become useless. the bread of life is their life. their father— become useless. the bread of life is their life. their father used - become useless. the bread of life is their life. their father used to - their life. their father used to work as a driver with a foreign company and the taliban took over and the company shut down. this war

left him injured, too. translation: left him injured, too. tuna/mom- left him injured, too. translation: g ., translation: my baby has no cradle. i sold it to buy — translation: my baby has no cradle. i sold it to buy some _ translation: my baby has no cradle. i sold it to buy some flower. _ translation: my baby has no cradle. i sold it to buy some flower. i - translation: my baby has no cradle. i sold it to buy some flower. i got - i sold it to buy some flower. i got some food online from the shop, but i can't pay them now. if there is no other way, i can't pay them now. if there is no otherway, i i can't pay them now. if there is no other way, i will be forced to sell my children to survive. a, other way, i will be forced to sell my children to survive. a desperate decision for — my children to survive. a desperate decision for so _ my children to survive. a desperate decision for so many _ my children to survive. a desperate decision for so many parents. - decision for so many parents. survival, that's life now. with me in the studio is lyse. for so many people, this isn't an anniversary at all, it is a reminder for afghans of what they lost. it is a memory for _ for afghans of what they lost. it is a memory for so _ for afghans of what they lost. it 3 a memory for so many afghans. our viewers will remember the scenes of panic at kabul airport on the 15th and four weeks afterwards. the sudden precipitous fall of the government in kabul. even the taliban were surprised when they

slept swept into the afghan capital, took over the country. ashraf ghani fled. and now we have seen over the past two years whether the taliban have kept the promises they made through those long months of negotiations. and of course, they say security is better and in some ways, it is, they are no longer attacking, of course. but the foreign forces are gone. corruption is less, the donors will say that. but a lot has gone wrong and could get even worse. most of all, what the world has been focusing on, and notjust the world has been focusing on, and not just western and the world has been focusing on, and notjust western and islamic countries as well, this raft of edicts restricting the lives of girls and women. so when we spoke to the spokesperson for the taliban government, i said, the spokesperson for the taliban government, isaid, you keep the spokesperson for the taliban government, i said, you keep saying you are going to do something about it, but that is what you said before and didn't. are you saying that these policies,

these edicts will be lifted? it is just a matter of time? because most people believe they seem to be there to stay. translation: ~ ., ., ., ~ translation: women are working in some places — translation: women are working in some places now- _ translation: women are working in some places now. for— translation: women are working in some places now. for example, - translation: women are working in some places now. for example, in . some places now. for example, in health, education, police, passports, national id departments, airports. in these places women have been working. and for the rest as well, as long as there is a need and it is allowed. the same goes for girls education, we have never said these restrictions are going to be forever. ., ., ., ~ ., forever. how long will it take, one ear, five forever. how long will it take, one year. five years? _ year, five years? translation: ~ ., translation: we are hoping it will be solved very _ translation: we are hoping it will be solved very soon. _ be solved very soon. that is you talking to the spokesperson of the taliban. you wrote a piece on the bbc website and it is a question many are asking, should world leaders start talking to the taliban, should they? it is a big issue in every conflict, who do

you talk to and what is the point of engaging? not a single country has recognised the taliban rule since they came to power, they believe they came to power, they believe they should be recognised. most western embassies pulled out, but neighbouring countries are there. a lot of the diplomats based in the gulf are still talking to the taliban. the critics, including a very large, very embittered afghan diaspora, say what is the point, just strengthen them when you talk to them, strengthen their hardline views. but others believe because there are signs of dissent within there are signs of dissent within the taliban movement, there are taliban leaders who have been negotiating for a very long time who understand the importance of afghanistan and moving to a more modern approach to education, work. and they believe there is something that can be achieved in speaking with them. nothing has been achieved yet, it is a very hierarchical movement, the edicts are handed down by the reclusive supreme leader. but

if you don't talk to them, then you shut the door. and those who believe in engagement, and many do, many don't, but those who do say so shtick —— say shutting the door completely would be the worst situation of all.— completely would be the worst situation of all. you have travelled to afghanistan _ situation of all. you have travelled to afghanistan for— situation of all. you have travelled to afghanistan for many _ situation of all. you have travelled to afghanistan for many years - situation of all. you have travelled to afghanistan for many years and | to afghanistan for many years and since the taliban took charge. if we were sitting here in two years from now, what do you see the future, especially for those young girls who don't have an education right now? i would want to be able to say, although many watching including afghan women who have been on this programme and the bbc today saying they have lost hope, afghans when you visit afghanistan, they say hope is the last to die, let's try to take the taliban at their word that this is not forever, that they will allow girls to go to school. what kind of education will be another thing. i think if we say that all is lost, it means nobody tries to work for and keep driving for a different afghanistan. the women who are there haven't given up fighting. lyse

doucet always _ haven't given up fighting. lyse doucet always great _ haven't given up fighting. lyse doucet always great to - haven't given up fighting. lyse doucet always great to have you in the studio and thank you for your important reporting on the studio. and lyse doucet�*s article which i refer to, should world leaders start talking to the taliban? it is there and it is worth a read and there is plenty more coverage on the bbc news website, notjust on that story, but all the stories of the day. this is bbc news. hello there. what a difference a day makes. yesterday, many places had a real deluge. today, much drier, much brighter. over the next few days, it will turn warmer as well, with increasing levels of humidity, but it's not completely plain sailing. still some showers around through the afternoon, particularly affecting parts of northern england and scotland, there could well be the odd heavy one here, but a lot of dry weather,

some spells of sunshine and temperatures of 21 degrees in glasgow, 20 in belfast, but 25, maybe 26 in parts of eastern england. through the evening, most of the showers will fade, but we will keep more cloud across the north and the east of scotland and parts of north—east england as we go through the night. a few spots of rain with that. elsewhere, some clear spells. it will be a relatively cool night for some parts of east wales, the west midlands and down into the west country. across southern england, wales, parts of northern england, southern scotland and northern ireland, there could be some patchy fog tomorrow morning. and at this time of year, that fog can tend to linger for a couple of hours through the morning rush hour. it should then tend to lift and clear. for most, there's going to be a lot of dry weather, spells of sunshine and just the small chance of catching a shower. more cloud generally clinging on across some northern and eastern parts of scotland, with some showers here. the highest temperatures down towards the south—east corner, up to around 26 celsius. as we move out of wednesday into thursday, this area of high pressure tends to shift north—eastwards and the winds begin to come in our direction

from the near continent, which will bring some warmer air across more parts of the uk. so a warmer feeling day on thursday, quite humid, as well. some fog patches to start off, particularly across parts of northern england and scotland. one or two showers, but a lot of dry weather, some spells of sunshine and temperatures for many spots getting into the low—to—mid—20s. we could see 25, maybe 26 degrees around some western parts. that warmth will try to hold on into friday. there's uncertainty aboutjust how warm friday might be because we see frontal systems approaching from the atlantic and, depending on just how quickly the cloud and the rain arrives, well, temperatures may be somewhat suppressed. we will see outbreaks of rain pushing in from the south—west, some heavy thundery bursts, and temperatures generally in the low—to—mid—20s.

three suspected spies have been arrested in a major investigation. we will speak live to the former victims commissioner for england and wales after a data breach in norfolk and suffolk. the severe hunger and a

near collapse of the health system, two years since the taliban took control of afghanistan. we find out why celebrity creative directors of business are back in fashion. now it is time for the sport and we can get a full round—up. hello from the bbc sport centre. spain have sealed their place in sunday's women's world cup final after beating sweden in a dramatic last four tie in auckland. a game of few chances sparked into life when 19 year old substitute salma paralluelo gave spain the lead with just 10 minutes remaining. sweden — who've now lost back—to—back world cup semi—finals — equalised through rebecka blomqvist and it looked like the match would be going to extra time. butjust 93 seconds later spain's captain olga carmona scored an 89th—minute winner to spark wild scenes ofjubilation among their supporters at eden park.

they'll face england or co—hosts australia in the final