Coming just three days after a man set himself on fire outside the courthouse in an unrelated incident. The man later died. You can imagine the amount of cameras operational in new york around the courthouse and around here, trump tower. They are expecting donald trump to leave his home shortly, going to the manhattan courthouse where the trial will get under way. We expect opening arguments to start in a couple of hours. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 hours. He has pleaded not guilty to sa counts of Falsifying 3a counts of falsifying Business Records. He also denies having an affair with Stormy Daniels. Lets speak to richard painter, who was the chief white house ethics lawyer. He is now a Law Professor at the university of minnesota. Opening statements in a few hours. What can we expect today . Opening statements in a few hours. What can we expect today . Today will be the opening what can we expect today . Today will be the opening arguments what can we expect today . Today will be the opening arguments in what can we expect today . Today will be the opening arguments in the be the opening arguments in the case be the opening arguments in the case first be the opening arguments in the case. First presented by the prosecution and then the lawyers representing donald trump the defendant. This is essentially a case defendant. This is essentially a case of defendant. This is essentially a case of a defendant. This is essentially a case of a falsification of Business Records case of a falsification of Business Records. Falsification of Business Records records. Falsification of Business Records for records. Falsification of Business Records for a very momentous purpose. Records for a very momentous purpose, which was to conceal a substantial payment of well over 100,000 in connection with a 2016 campaign 100,000 in connection with a 2016 campaign. In the us, it is illegal to have campaign. In the us, it is illegal to have sex campaign. In the us, it is illegal to have sex with a Pornography Star and legal to have sex with a Pornography Star and legal to pay them not to talk about and legal to pay them not to talk about it and legal to pay them not to talk about it but if you do so in connection with a campaign, federal campaign, connection with a campaign, federal campaign, that must be reported on the federal campaign, that must be reported on the federal Election Commission reports the federal Election Commission reports on what donald trump did, allegedly, reports on what donald trump did, allegedly, according to the prosecution, was falsifying records the trump prosecution, was falsifying records the Trump Organisation to conceal the Trump Organisation to conceal the donation. That is why he is going the donation. That is why he is going to the donation. That is why he is going to trial today in new york. These going to trial today in new york. These are going to trial today in new york. These are allegations and have to be proven these are allegations and have to be proven by these are allegations and have to be proven by the prosecution. Beyond reasonable doubt. If they are, he will he reasonable doubt. If they are, he will be held guilty of a felony. We exect a will be held guilty of a felony. Expect a shorter day in court due to passover. The session could end as early as 2pm. Does it mean we will have time today to hear from witnesses . Have time today to hear from witnesses . ~. , ,. , witnesses . We made. It depends on how quickly witnesses . We made. It depends on how quickly the witnesses . We made. It depends on how quickly the opening witnesses . We made. It depends on how quickly the opening argumentsl witnesses . We made. It depends on l how quickly the opening arguments go and whether the witnesses are available. The prosecution will begin available. The prosecution will begin to available. The prosecution will begin to put on its case probably today~ begin to put on its case probably today if begin to put on its case probably today. If not, we have later in the week today. If not, we have later in the week this today. If not, we have later in the week. This case will proceed as expeditiously as possible. The jury is in place. Expeditiously as possible. The jury is in place, members of the jury have is in place, members of the jury have day is in place, members of the jury have dayjobs they have to get back to, and have dayjobs they have to get back to, and the have dayjobs they have to get back to, and the court will do everything it can to, and the court will do everything it can to to, and the court will do everything it can to make sure this is a speedy trial~ it can to make sure this is a speedy trial. ,. ,. ,. , trial. How long do you think the trial. How long do you think the trial could trial. How long do you think the trial could last . Trial. How long do you think the trial could last . This trial. How long do you think the trial could last . This could trial. How long do you think the trial could last . This could last| trial could last . This could last two weeks. Trial could last . This could last two weeks. We trial could last . This could last two weeks, we do trial could last . This could last two weeks, we do not trial could last . This could last two weeks, we do not know, i trial could last . This could last two weeks, we do not know, it depends two weeks, we do not know, it depends on the nature of the evidence depends on the nature of the evidence. Donald trump the defendant is entitled evidence. Donald trump the defendant is entitled to present any evidence he believes may be mitigating or prove he believes may be mitigating or prove his he believes may be mitigating or prove his innocence, prove that someone prove his innocence, prove that someone else falsified the Business Records, someone else falsified the Business Records, whatever defence he chooses to put records, whatever defence he chooses to put up records, whatever defence he chooses to put up. He has apparently chosen not to, to put up. He has apparently chosen not to, but to put up. He has apparently chosen not to, but we will see if he will put up not to, but we will see if he will put up a not to, but we will see if he will put up a defence that persuades at least some of the jurors he is not guiltv least some of the urors he is not uuil. ~. , least some of the urors he is not iuil. ~. , least some of the urors he is not uuil. ~. , least some of the urors he is not uuil. ~. ,. ,. , guilty. What is your view of the gag order in place . Guilty. What is your view of the gag order in place . Prosecutors guilty. What is your view of the gag order in place . Prosecutors want i guilty. What is your view of the gag | order in place . Prosecutors want to Hold Donald Trump in contempt for allegedly violating it. Than . Hold donald trump in contempt for allegedly violating it. Allegedly violating it. Any other defendant would allegedly violating it. Any other defendant would know allegedly violating it. Any other defendant would know you allegedly violating it. Any other defendant would know you certainly do not defendant would know you certainly do not go defendant would know you certainly do not go and make public statements about the do not go and make public statements about the judges daughter unless you want about the judges daughter unless you want to be put injail. That is well you want to be put injail. That is well beyond the bounds of acceptability. Another thing is a defendant cannot make comments about witnesses, defendant cannot make comments about witnesses, seeking to intimidate witnesses, seeking to intimidate witnesses in the public arena. The a witnesses in the public arena. The gag order witnesses in the public arena. The gag order is witnesses in the public arena. The gag order is essential that it is complied gag order is essential that it is complied with and a defendant who does not complied with and a defendant who does not comply with such an order is subject does not comply with such an order is subject to does not comply with such an order is subject to imprisonment or other sanction~ is subject to imprisonment or other sanction. ,. ,. ,. , sanction. Richard, great to get your thou~hts. What will we see in the courtroom . We bring you more of those who might come across in the next couple of days. Come across in the next couple of da s. ,. , , , come across in the next couple of das. Days. Obviously, trump is at the heart of the days. Obviously, trump is at the heart of the case days. Obviously, trump is at the heart of the case but days. Obviously, trump is at the heart of the case but there days. Obviously, trump is at the heart of the case but there is days. Obviously, trump is at the l heart of the case but there is also a number of key players and it has been described as a hollywood blockbuster cast. First we have the justice, a seasoned new yorkjudge, who proceeded over the trump is my organisation tax case. We also have the prosecutor who inherited the investigation when he took office in 2021. His former colleague is trumps top trial lawyer and he used to be a registered democrat before becoming a republican and taking on the biggest client of his life. In trumps trial, it has been difficult to find a jury and the court had to whittle it down from hundreds to just 12 jurors. Whittle it down from hundreds to just 12jurors. Their identities will remain anonymous due to Security Concerns but we know there are five women and seven men. And now for the witnesses. We have Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, who alleges she received a payment from michael cohen, a lawyerfor the Trump Organizationjust from michael cohen, a lawyerfor the Trump Organization just before the 2016 election to keep silent about her claimed affair with trump. And here we have michael cohen, the fixer, who pleaded guilty to making that Hush Money Payment to Stormy Daniels in 2018 but he says trump directed him to send that money. Another potential witness is a playboy model Karen Mcdougall who claims to have had a previous illicit affair with mr trump and said she was paid hush money by American Media incorporated for her story forcing her to keep quiet, which brings me to the then chairman and ceo of that tabloid who was part of a catch and kill scheme to support mr trumps 2016 president ial run. He would essentially buy the rights to stories that would make trump look bad and then refused to publish them, to suppress the damaging information. He is expected to be the first witness called after the opening arguments. Ads, to be the first witness called after the opening arguments. To be the first witness called after the opening arguments. A slate of intriuuuin the opening arguments. A slate of intriguing potential the opening arguments. A slate of intriguing potential witnesses the opening arguments. A slate of intriguing potential witnesses that j intriguing potential witnesses that could be called over the coming days. We can show you live pictures of trump tower as we wait for donald trump to leave his home. Media from around the world have their cameras everywhere in new york following donald trump. Outside the courthouse and trump tower. We have corresponded tos on the scene and willjoin them through the day to bring you the latest. Ukraines president zelensky says the 61 Billion DollarMilitary Aid Package approved by american lawmakers tx will give his country a chance of victory in its war against russia. In an interview on American Television he said more weapons would help kyiv retake the initiative especially long range missiles. Ukrainian forces have been coming under increasing pressure recently in the east of the country and there have been concerns in the west about russian advances including the capture of the strategic town of avdiivka in february. James waterhouse has the latest from kyiv. A Production Line Waiting for a president ial sign off. Freshly made Artillery Shells in this factory in pennsylvania, usa now almost certain to make their way to a ukrainian battlefield, where there are holes instead of rounds. After america threw its weight back behind ukraine, the message here is you make it, well use it. Near kupiansk in the north east, it is the russians who are edging closer. Translation its better now if we let them attack and we defend but when we get the shells, drones, and whatever else from this package, we can turn things around. Its hoped this us aid will save ukrainian lives and cities like kyiv but it has been a painful wait. Translation our guys need help because they have nothing to protect us. We always need help because without it, our enemy can advance further and can be in the centre of our city. Of course it is not too late. In any case, aid is needed, and whether it would be later or earlier, in any case it will help. There has been a constant flow of diplomats through kyiv as they have tried to pave the way for this bill to be passed. Better late than never is the reaction we are hearing this weekend. Never would have meant almost certain defeat for ukraine. However, late still means it will be difficult for kyiv to change momentum on the battlefield straightaway. Translation this aid will strengthen ukraine and send the kremlin a powerful signal that it will not be the second afghanistan. The United States will stay with ukraine and it will protect democracy in the world. This is a show of leadership and strength. While the west has wavered, russia has stayed committed to its invasion. Ukraine needs to make americas return count to keep moscow and western doubt at bay. James waterhouse, bbc news, kyiv. We will have more on how that will help strategically on the battlefield later in the programme. To the middle east now. Major general Aharon Halevi accepted responsibility for Security Failings that allowed the tax on October The 7th to take place. He has resigned. In other developments, Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to reject any sanctions on the military after reports the us plans to cut to one unit. There is ongoing violence in the occupied west bank and the us said it will respond to any Human Rights Violations against palestinians. And this is gaza today. 15 children among the dead after an israeli air strike on the Southern City of rafah. More than a million displaced palestinians are sheltering. More than 3a,000 people have died since the start of the war, it has been said. And Emergency Workers say they have covered and uncovered more than 200 bodies in khan younis. The World Health Organisation previously said bodies were being buried within hospitals under israeli siege. Palestinians have accused Israeli Forces of killing some of the victims. Israel said hamas uses medicalfacilities in gaza as command centres. With war, our middle east correspondent. Major general Aharon Haliva is the most senior israeli official that weve had so far to step down from his role in connection with the failings that led to the October The 7th attacks by hamas that really shocked israel and shocked the rest of the world. And he did come out in the week after those attacks and say that he publicly accepted responsibility, his share of the blame. But its taken until now with six months of a War Raging On In Gaza for him to hand his Resignation Letter in. And he has said the Intelligence Division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I carry that black day with me ever since. Really, the major general� S Announcement sets the stage for possibly more resignations from top Security Officials in the country, will put pressure on some in the political echelons, as well, where responsibility hasnt really been taken for other failings that may have contributed to the 7th Of October attacks. All of this comes as fighting continues in gaza. The focus over the past couple of days has been very much on whats been happening in Khan Younis In The South after Israeli Ground forces pulled out of that city, which is seen as a hamas stronghold, earlier this month. Local people had been going back, trying to find out what happened to about 2,000 palestinians who were missing and presumed dead, buried under the rubble. And in the grounds of the nasser hospital, theyve just found another mass grave in the past day with dozens of bodies in it. And there have been processes going on to try to identify those. This brings close now to 200 the total number of bodies that have been found in the grounds of that hospital. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Here in the uk, rishi sunak says his governments here in the uk, rishi sunak says his governments rwanda bill will become law despite fierce opposition from the House Of Lords. Speaking in the past couple of hours, the Prime Minister said mps and the lords will