This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Jackie Leonard and at 19.30 GMT on Tuesday,

the 4th of April, we're doing things a little differently.

Hello, I'm James Reynolds and in this special edition

of the Global News Podcast, we are reporting from New York

as Donald Trump pleads not guilty to criminal charges.

34 felony counts, including falsifying business records

and, as James says, not guilty pleas have been entered.

Security was stepped up around the Manhattan court

for the arrival of Donald Trump,

who becomes the first former or sitting US president

to face such charges.

In other news, we look at the significance of Finland

becoming the 31st member of NATO

and a fiery final AGM at Credit Suisse

as the chairman apologizes to furious shareholders.

A court house today, situated at 100 Centra Street in Lower Manhattan

in New York, became the centre of attention for US and global media.

It was there that Donald Trump arrived and was put into police custody.

It's the first time in American history

that a former US president has faced a judge on criminal charges.

He denies any wrongdoing and claims he's a victim of a witch hunt.

...