i'm kasia madera in london. the headlines: we'll be live at the white house for a ceremonial swearing in of new supreme court judge brett kavanaugh. president trump says sexual assault allegations against him were a hoax by the democrats. i'm mariko oi in singapore. also in the programme: beijing says its investigation into the detained former interpol chief is evidence that china is determined to stamp out corruption. a special report on china's organ transplant system, as the authorities deny they're being sourced from executed prisoners. good morning. it's 7am in singapore,

midnight here in london and 7pm in the evening in washington, where in the next few moments president trump will preside over a prime—time ceremonial swearing—in for brett kavanaugh as the new associate justice of the supreme court of the united states. these are live pictures from the east room of the white house. we are expecting a ceremony to take place in the next few moments. laura trevelyan is in washington for us. this is the public event, we had a private ceremony at the supreme court this weekend. that's right. justice brett kava naugh court this weekend. that's right. justice brett kavanaugh was sworn in at the supreme court by the chief justicejohn roberts at the weekend. this is that it relapsed for president trump, the public ceremonial swearing—in, whether president can remind the american public one month before the mid—term elections, that he is delivering on

his promises. this is a second conservative justice he appointed to the highest court in the land and water importantly, judge kavanagh will replace the body who was the key swing vote on the court and he is expected to be a much more reliable conservative voice on the court on those key issues of abortion and same—sex marriage. for the president, this is a defining moment. he is delivering on everything that he promised he would do. you described this as a victory lap, we are expecting the president to speak for quite sometime just before this ceremonial swearing—in. we are seeing the gentleman walk up to the podium. that is right. president asking in a moment of reflected glory because he is delivering, for all that this was a ditto and a bruising court battle, for all that was the intersection of the me too moment. here is the

president about speak. —— about to speak. applause. cheering. thank you very much. thank you. members of congress, members of the cabinet, honoured guests and fellow

americans it is my privilege to address yukonite from the east room of the white house. —— you tonight. we are gathered here this evening for a truly momentous occasion. i have long been told that the most important decision president can make, is the appointment of a supreme courtjustice. make, is the appointment of a supreme court justice. well, make, is the appointment of a supreme courtjustice. well, injust a few moments, we will proudly swear in the newest member of the united states supreme courtjustice, brett kavanaugh. applause. joining us for tonight's ceremony is every sitting supreme courtjustice. chiefjustice

roberts, thank you. justice thomas, thank you. justice ginsberg, thank you. justice ali, thank you justice. justice alito. justice kagan, thank you. and justice gorsuch. cutback. justice alito. justice kagan, thank you. andjustice gorsuch. cutback. i would also like to send our deep appreciation to maureen skelly, the wife of the late great anthony scully. and also to our white house

counsel, don began. —— scalia. we are thrilled to be joined this evening byjustice andrew kennedy. justice kennedy, america owes you a profound debt of gratitude for a lifetime of noble service to our nation and i want to thank you very much. applause. very special and treasured tests tonight are justice kavanagh‘s treasured tests tonight are justice kava nagh's amazing wife, treasured tests tonight are justice kavanagh‘s amazing wife, ashley, thank you ashley. applause. and

their two beautiful daughters, margaret and liza. applause. and we are alsojoined by margaret and liza. applause. and we are also joined byjustice kavanagh‘s mum and dad, martha and ed. thank you. commentator:. -- applause. i would like to begin tonight ‘s proceeding, differently perhaps, of any other event of such magnitude. on behalf of our nation i wa nt to magnitude. on behalf of our nation i want to apologise to break and the entire family for the terrible pain and suffering have been forced to endure. those who step forward to serve our endure. those who step forward to serve oui’ country deserve a endure. those who step forward to serve our country deserve a fair and dignified evaluation. not a campaign

of political and personal destruction based on lies and deception. what happened to the cavanaugh family deception. what happened to the cava naugh family violates deception. what happened to the cavanaugh family violates every motion of fairness, decency and due process. in our country, a man or a woman, must always be presumed innocent unless or until, proven guilty. applause. and with that, i must state, that you serve, and the historic scrutiny, were proven innocent. thank you. applause. —— you sir. margaret and liza, yourfather margaret and liza, your father is a great man, he is a man of decency, kindness and courage, who has devoted his life to serving his

fellow citizens. and now, from the bench of our nation ‘s highest court, your father will defend the eternal rights and freedoms of all americans, you know that. putt. -- applause. we arejoined we are joined tonight i we arejoined tonight i leader we are joined tonight i leader who has never wavered in his support and devotion to the rule of law and to brett kava naugh's elevation, devotion to the rule of law and to brett kavanaugh's elevation, it he has worked very, very hard and he truly has done just an incredible and wonderfuljob truly has done just an incredible and wonderful job for the truly has done just an incredible and wonderfuljob for the american people, majority leader, mitch mcconnell. applause. i think that's the biggest

hand he's ever received. they don't get it mitch, you are great at thank you, very much appreciated. i would like to talk about another man whose principal leadership has brought widespread appreciation. senator chuck grassley, thank you, chuck. applause. we are grateful to all of the senators on the judiciary committee who fought so hard for this confirmation. senators lindsey graham,john this confirmation. senators lindsey graham, john corner, warren hatch, mike leigh, ted cruz, then sass,

jeff flake, mike crapo, tom gillis and john kennedy. applause. and thank you all so to rob portman, sitting right here, thank you robert. applause. and finally, we are indebted to senator susan holmes, for her brave and eloquent speech, and her declaration that when passions are most inflamed, fairness is most in jeopardy, how true, how true. how true. applause. brett kavanaugh is a man of outstanding intellect, a brilliant scholar and his credentials are unsurpassed. a

graduate of both yale college and gail law school, he has taught at harvard, yale and georgetown. when he is not working with his family, he is not working with his family, he is not working with his family, he is getting back to his community. he spent 26 years in public service and just like justice gorsuch, he worked forjustice kennedy. for the last couple of years he was a judge on the dc circuit court of appeals, widely regarded as our nation ‘s second highest court. during his tenure he authored over 300 opinions, distinguished by their masterful and impartial reasoning. known as a judge'sjudge, masterful and impartial reasoning. known as a judge's judge, he is a fair—minded, unbiased and evenhanded person. he understands thatjustice must be divorced from the passions of the day, tended instead to the enduring foundation of our republic,

the constitution. —— tethered. justice kava nagh fills the constitution. —— tethered. justice kavanagh fills the place left by anthony kennedy, soon, justice kennedy will a minister the judicial oath to brett kavanaugh, just as he did last year forjustice gorsuch. this'll be the first a supreme courtjustice gorsuch. this'll be the first a supreme court justice has gorsuch. this'll be the first a supreme courtjustice has ever sworn ina supreme courtjustice has ever sworn in a former cloak to take his seat. —— work. a beautiful moment which reminds us that freedom is a tradition that has passed down from generation to generation. —— clerk. that is a big statement and want to thank you so much for that, that is so thank you so much for that, that is so beautiful. so beautiful is —— so —— so beautiful. -- so beautiful. applause. margaret and liza's presents tonight about

what this historic event, all about your father, is all about. what this historic event, all about yourfather, is allabout. is what this historic event, all about yourfather, is all about. is about what kind of a nation we are going to be and what kind of a country our children will inherit. —— it is a doubt. is up to us, and all americans watching tonight, to that question. —— it is up to us. it is up question. —— it is up to us. it is up to us to keep our impartial justice. it is up to us to dedicate ourselves to the traditions and wisdom of our founders. ourselves to the traditions and wisdom of ourfounders. and it is up to us to renew the bonds of love, loyalty a nd to us to renew the bonds of love, loyalty and affection that went us altogether as one great american family. applause. let us pray we are

successful in this task, and let us pray that all americans will grow up ina pray that all americans will grow up in a country which is fair and just u nsafe in a country which is fair and just unsafe and strong and free, and let us unsafe and strong and free, and let us ask god to blessjustice kavanaugh and his family as they embark on this incredible journey together. i now invitejustice brett kavanaugh to come forward and to ta ke kavanaugh to come forward and to take thejudicial oath. kavanaugh to come forward and to take the judicial oath. thank you very much. justice brett kavanaugh, are you ready to take the oath of office? i am. can you please repeat after me. i had, brett m kavanaugh,

do solemnly square —— swear that i will administerjustice do solemnly square —— swear that i will administer justice and give equal rights to the poor and to the rich, and that i will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as associate justice of the supreme court of the united states. under the constitution and laws of the united states, so help me god. applause mr president, thank you for the great honour of appointing me to serve as a justice of the supreme court. i've seen first hand you a deep appreciation for the vital role of the american judiciary. i am

grateful for your steadfast, unwavering support throughout this process , unwavering support throughout this process, and i am grateful to you and mrs trump for the exceptional, overwhelming courtesy you have extended to my family and me. mr president, thank you for everything. applause iam applause i am honoured to serve on a supreme court headed by chiefjusticejohn roberts. chiefjustice court headed by chiefjusticejohn roberts. chief justice roberts court headed by chiefjusticejohn roberts. chiefjustice roberts is a principled, independent and inspiring leaderfor the principled, independent and inspiring leader for the american judiciary. as a country, we are fortu nate to judiciary. as a country, we are fortunate to havejohn roberts as chiefjustice of the united states. iam chiefjustice of the united states. i am honoured to serve alongside all of my new colleagues, each of whom i

know, and each of whom i greatly admire and deeply respect. all nine of us revere the constitution. article three of the constitution provides that the judicial power shall be vested in one supreme court, the supreme court is an institution of law. it is not a partisan political institution. the justices do not sit on opposite sides of an aisle. we do not caucus in separate rooms. the supreme court isa in separate rooms. the supreme court is a team of nine, and i will always bea is a team of nine, and i will always be a team player on the team of nine. applause has a newjustice on the supreme

court, i understand the responsibility that i bear. some 30 yea rs responsibility that i bear. some 30 years ago, standing here in the east room with president reagan, anthony kennedy took the oath to be a new justice of the supreme court. justice of the supreme court. justice kennedy became one of the most consequential justices justice kennedy became one of the most consequentialjustices in american history. i served as justice kennedy's law clerk in 1993. to me, justice kennedy is a mentor, a friend, and the hero. on the supreme court, he was a model of stability and collegiality. he fiercely defended the independence of thejudiciary, fiercely defended the independence of the judiciary, and zealously guarded the individual liberties secured by the constitution. justice kennedy established a legacy of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. i will always be humbled and proud to sit injustice

kennedy's seat on the supreme court. applause i thank the members of the united states senate, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell, for his leadership and steady resolve. i thankjudiciary leadership and steady resolve. i thank judiciary committee chairman chuck grassley for his wisdom and fairness and i give special thanks to susan collins, john kyle and lindsey graham. they are a credit to the country and the senate. i will be forever grateful to each of them and to all the senators who carefully considered my nomination. presiding over the final vote in the senate on saturday was vice

president pence. i am grateful to the vice president for his sound advice and faithful support. i thank council to the president don mcgann, who was a warrior for fairness and performed his duties in the finest traditions of our constitution. applause i thank all the outstanding people in the white house, the department ofjustice in the white house, the department of justice and the in the white house, the department ofjustice and the senate who worked day and night on this nomination. one ofa day and night on this nomination. one of a federaljudge's most important responsibilities is to hire four new law cloaks each year. the law clerks are recent law school graduate and their work and the judge's chambers for one year. they are among the best and brightest young lawyers in america —— clerks. they become the future leaders of the legal profession. i thank my former law clerks who devoted so

much time and energy to support me during the confirmation process. applause inspired by my mum, who was a trailblazer for women inspired by my mum, who was a trailblazerfor women in inspired by my mum, who was a trailblazer for women in the law, inspired by my mum, who was a trailblazerfor women in the law, i worked hard throughout my career to promote the advancement of women. women still face many barriers in the american workplace, and all of us the american workplace, and all of us have a responsibility to address that problem. during my 12 years on the dc circuit, a majority of my law cloa ks were the dc circuit, a majority of my law cloaks were women, and almost all of them went on to klerk at the supreme court. a clerkship on the supreme court. a clerkship on the supreme court is one of the most coveted achievements and credentials in american law. i am proud that all four of my newly hired lord clerks at the supreme court are women, a first in the history of the supreme court. applause

tonight, i thank all my friends, so many amazing and fearless friends, from my high school days, college, law school, clerking, the bush white house, including president george w bush. applause from thejudiciary, teaching, coaching, playing sports, the vibrant, loyal and tightknit catholic community here in the dc area, and so many others. ashley and iare area, and so many others. ashley and i are gratefulfor their area, and so many others. ashley and i are grateful for their prayers and for the prayers of the thousands and thousands of people we have heard from throughout america. when i give advice to young people or speak to students, i tell them, advice to young people or speak to students, itell them, cherish advice to young people or speak to students, i tell them, cherish your friends, look out for your friends, lift up your friends, love your

friends. i love all my friends. applause i thank my family, my mum, martha and my dad, ed, i hear. under only child. my mum was one of maryland's earliest women prosecutors and judges. my dad taught me his work ethic and love of sports. they have given me a lifetime of love and i am forever grateful to them. applause my applause my daughters, margaret and liza, are strong, smart, or some girls. they are in the middle of all the cross, looking forward to the upcoming basketball season —— fall lacrosse.

i thank my teachers for giving them the day off tomorrow so they can come and watch two case is being argued in the supreme court. applause my applause my wife, ashley, is a proud west texa n, my wife, ashley, is a proud west texan, graduate of abilene cooper public high school, university of texas at austin. she is a dedicated town manager of our local community. she's got a deep faith, she is an awesome mum, a great wife. she is a rock. i thank god every day for ashley and my family. applause the senate confirmation process was

contentious and emotional. that process is over. my focus now is to be the best justice process is over. my focus now is to be the bestjustice i can be. i take this office with gratitude, and no reason is. on the supreme court, i will seek to be a force for stability and unity. my goal is to bea stability and unity. my goal is to be a greatjustice, for all americans and for all of america. i will work very hard to achieve that goal. i was not appointed to serve one party or one interests, but to serve one nation. america's constitutional laws protect every person of every belief and every background. every litigant in the supreme court can be assured that i will listen to their arguments with respect and an open mind. every american can be assured that i will

be an independent and impartial justice, devoted to equaljustice under law. although the senate confirmation process tested me, as it has tested others, it did not change me. my approach to judging remains the same. a good judge must be an umpire, neutral and impartial decider who favours no litigant or policy. ajudge must be independent, and must interpret the law, not make the law. ajudge must interpret statutes is written, and the judge must interpret the constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent. in the wake of the senate confirmation process, my approach to life also remains the same. i will continue to heed the message of matthew 25. i will

continue to volunteer to serve the least fortu nate continue to volunteer to serve the least fortunate among us. i will continue to coach, teach and tutor. i will continue to strive to be a good friend, colleague, husband and dad. as in the past, our nation today faces challenges and divisions, but i am an optimist. i live on the sunrise side of the mountain. i see the day that is coming, not the day that has gone. i am optimistic about the future of america and the future of our independent judiciary, america and the future of our independentjudiciary, the crown jewel of our constitutional republic. as a justice of the supreme court, i will always strive to preserve the constitution of the united states, and the american rule of law. thank you all. applause we are live in the east wing of the

white house, wherejustice kavanagh has been sworn in at the special ceremonial swearing—in event. this has been a long time coming in this, what was a very to battle to get this moment, but we have been watching justice brett kavanaugh being sworn in. he replaces anthony kennedy, who administered the oath of office to him and we saw earlier president trump opening the proceedings and also apologising for the difficult confirmation process that brett kava naugh the difficult confirmation process that brett kavanaugh had to go to.