this is bbc world news i'm shaun ley. our top stories... joe biden says his win in the american election as a convincing victory for "the people" — and promises to unite and heal the country. for all those of you who voted for president trump. i understand the disappointment tonight. we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies. they are not our enemies, they are americans. the victory for mr biden and his running mate — kamala harris — who will make history by becoming the first female vice president —sparked nationwide celebrations among democratic supporters. donald trump has not conceded — the white house said he would accept the results of a fair election. we'll be live in washington shortly — we'll bring you the very latest

developments. manchester united footballer, marcus rashford, describes a government u—turn over free school meals in england as a "ma you know, on the phone he kept thanking me. but then in the back of my mind i'm like, it's the families that deserve the u turn. the uk government is urging people to mark remembrance sunday at home this year — by taking part in the two minute silence, watching events on television and sharing personal stories over social media. a warm welcome to our viewers in the uk around the world. we will bring

you the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. in his first speech as you 5 president, joe boyden has addressed the flag—waving supporters at an outdoor event at his home in delaware, mr biden said it was time to heal and that his administration would marshal the forces of decency, fairness, science and hope. the president elect said getting the coronavirus pandemic under control remained his top priority. the president—elect of the united states of america, joe biden! a moment that has been 30 years in the making. joe biden makes his victory address, repeating his campaign promise to unite a divided country. for all those of you who voted for president trump, i understand the disappointment tonight. i've lost a couple of times myself.

but now, let's give each other a chance. cheering. it's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again, and to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as ourenemies. they are not our enemies, they are americans. he and his choice for vice president are making history. kamala harris will be the first female, black, and first south asian ever, in this role. she paid tribute to her mother, who came to the us from india at the age of 19. i am thinking about her. and about the generations of women, black women... cheering ..asian, white, latina, native american women, who throughout our nation's history have paved the way for this moment tonight.

tackling covid—i9 will be their first order of business. on monday, joe biden will name a task force of scientists and medical experts. in the nation's capital, washington, dc — jubilation. we're here to support biden and celebrate his win tonight. and the first black, female vice president! we're here because america has been liberated from the hatred and, just, casual racism that we've been experiencing for the past four years. somebody said we won a big battle today, the war is not over, but we have really accomplished something big today as a people. there have been people here all afternoon celebrating joe biden‘s win, and they are likely to continue right through the night. and while the crowd may have gone down somewhat, the excitement certainly hasn't.

and with the white house just metres behind us, it's hard not to wonder what its occupants must be thinking. this was donald trump as projections came through thatjoe biden, not he, had won. on social media, he remains defiant and is pursuing various legal challenges. but his refusal to concede didn't dim this moment. it was a historic night, offering a new chapter for america. lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. so, as counting continues in some states, how did joe biden get to the 270 electoral college votes needed to make a victory certain. here's my colleague ros atkins with a summary. to become president of america, you need a majority in the electoral college. this is a system where candidates compete for individual states. if you win a state, you get a certain amount of electoral college votes, to become president, you need 270 electoral votes.

because of the reasonable predictability of a lot of states in america, we always knew thatjoe biden would take california, joe biden would take new york. it was the states that we couldn't predict that really decided which way the selection went and in the hours that followed the polls closing, actually, the news was better for president trump. he took florida early on, later on ohio and iowa. he also took texas which the biden campaign had given some attention to, but that is really where the good news stopped for president trump. then the biden campaign started getting better news. we know there was a huge focus on the midwest. hillary clinton lost all the key states in the midwest. joe biden was to try and win them back. and he took wisconsin, he took michigan, which meant that when the day started, he was on 253 electoral college votes, he needed 17 more to become president. there were various routes, either via the south—west — nevada and arizona, or simply through the state where

he grew up, pennsylvania. he grew up in scranton. and a few hours ago, that's what happened. he took pennsylvania, that took him over 270 to 273. we're still waiting on some states — north carolina, georgia, arizona, actually, nevada's been projected as well. he currently stands on 279. it doesn't matter what happens in these other states, he already has enough to be the president elect. now, one of the things that will define his presidency is how much progress he can make with congress. let's look at both houses of congress. the senate matters more because it's a tighter political contest. the democrats have a6, add in two independents who tend to vote for them, they're on a8, so are the republicans. there are four outstanding, two of those, north carolina and alaska, we expect to go in the direction of the republicans. the thing we're all focused on is the two run—offs for the two senate seats in georgia, they will happen in january. if the democrats take them, it will be 50—50 and then the deciding vote goes to the vice president and of course

the vice president elect is kamala harris, a democrat. that is why there will be a huge amount of attention on georgia in the coming weeks and that's not just because of the fact that we still don't know who won the state in the presidential election. i'll quickly mention the house as well, the lower house of congress, less politically dramatic, the democrats controlled it before election day, they still control it now. the republicans made some gains but that will not have any impact on the fact that the democrats on the whole control the lower house. though it is the senate that is the unknown at the moment but we know about the house and we know who's going to be president, too. the result may well have repercussions here in the uk and the so—called relationship between the two countries. our political correspondent jessica parker is here. thanks very much for coming into talk about this. this relationship,

although they have almost always been on the same side in international disputes, the relationship has waxed and waned according to who is in the white house? personal chemistry matters and we don't know what personal chemistryjoe biden and boris johnson might have, because they have never met. we knowjoe biden has had some things to say about borisjohnson. last has had some things to say about boris johnson. last december suggesting he was a physical and emotional clone of president trump. of course, president trump has called boris johnson britain of course, president trump has called borisjohnson britain trump before. it seems to be a view shared, not just with before. it seems to be a view shared, notjust with donald trump, but with joe biden. joe shared, notjust with donald trump, but withjoe biden. joe biden, unlike donald trump is not a fan of brexit, did not support brexit and has sent out this morning during the campaign that if there is any risk to the good friday agreement, that will not bode well for a us uk trade deal. but they do have some things in common as well. it will be interesting to see what happens in terms of climate change ahead of cop

26 next year. president trump had already started the process of taking the us out of the agreement. there will be alignment on those kind of foreign policy and security issues the uk and us often find themselves on the same side. whilst borisjohnson seem to have a rapport with donald trump and donald trump said some nice things about boris johnson, of course donald trump can sometimes be a little bit unpredictable. in joe biden, sometimes be a little bit unpredictable. injoe biden, downing street might think they have a more conventional ally, someone who is a bit more predictable and also happy to work on the multilateral basis, as britain wants to do as well. the question of a trade deal between the uk and the us, that is not something that looks, well it didn't come at all during the trump years and the

suggestions are they might struggle to get it through the us congress? yes, because of agricultural interests. that would have been the case with whoever was president, the agricultural lobby that had been strong whether it was trump or biden. i think there is a sense of president trump remained he might have given it a bit more personal attention because he was pro brexit and talked up the possibility of a trade deal. we'll have to see what joe biden has to say specifically on that issue. but any us president would stand up for us interest as a uk prime minister would stand up for uk prime minister would stand up for uk interest. president trump will be in the white house until the 20th of january, so we might have some further resolution of what will happen with brexit and the trade deal with the european union. happen with brexit and the trade dealwith the european union. we will try to talk about that. damien mcguinness, in berlin i know you can

give us some reaction around europe, but can we pick up on the point jessica was raising about the potential implications about a trade deal, the last bit of the brexit arrangement that needs to be completed and the clock is ticking. the people in berlin, brussels, in paris think the election ofjoe biden will force the british to change their calculation on that one? i think there is an awareness, as he was saying just now, president biden believes in multilateral institutions. president trump was accused of undermining those institutions. for berlin and germany and europe in general, those institutions are crucial for security, for economic prosperity. when it comes to brexit, i think the awareness here is withjoe biden, even though you might have some policy differences, for germany, when it comes to trade links with china or energy links with russia,

those problems will not go away. but what you have got is you have a person who believes in those institutions, who is willing to talk, willing to negotiate and is predictable. it's not unpredictable as president trump is accused of being. when it comes to brexit, i think it is going to be a great reassurance for the eu and for germany in particular, that you have someone who is prepared to stand up for those institutions. in germany, the main view here is that it is those institutions which keep the eu together, but also keep the european economy going. it has been a very stressful time the past four years, certainly for germany and many other european countries because of this undermining of those institutions which germany views are so crucial. people will remember you talking about germany and angela merkel, who will be leaving office herself in the not—too—distant future. she was

humiliated by president trump and particular international meetings. do you think there is a sense that the alignment of interest they hope will develop between a biden white house and the eu can go into other areas? there are areas of the conflict, trade is one and the other is intellectual property and the taxation, for example, of international companies. never mind the view of the wider world and in particular, the washington view of moscow and what russia is doing on your‘s doorstep? moscow and what russia is doing on your's doorstep? that is right. there is an awareness of those problems will not go away. when you look at the concrete policy criticisms that have come out of the trump administration, many of those have cross—party consensus in washington. if you look at a pipeline being built from a gas pipeline being built from a gas pipeline to sell russian gas to germany directly built under the baltic sea. it is incredibly

controversial, not only for washington but also some of germany's eu allies. it is seen as increasing german and european dependent on russian energy sources. that is something president trump has been incredibly critical of and has been incredibly critical of and has started a process of sanctions against companies involved in that pipeline process. but criticisms will not go away under the next administration. this is something cross— party administration. this is something cross—party agreement on that. at the same with germany's close trade ties with china. that makes both parties in washington feel very uncomfortable. those criticisms will keep coming at germany, but what i think we will see, and i feel this is the relief we are feeling, if not the celebrate are removed, to be frank in berlin, even though you will have those policy differences, what politicians and voters here tell you, at least in president—elect biden, you are going to have someone you can talk to. the

difficulty for berlin and why politicians and the government here have been so unnerved, they felt they couldn't communicate or even understand president trump. it is no secret the relationship between angela merkel and donald trump was incredibly difficult, it was barely functioning. looking forward, even though there are policy differences and the struggles they will not change, i think the tone will be different and the relationship is going to be one you can work on. that is the key thing i think for berlin. thank you very much. so how isjoe biden's victory being viewed elsewhere in europe? one of the big challenges mr biden faces as president will be us—china relations. tensions between the two counties have been mounting on issues of trade, security, and covid—i9. i asked robin brant if there had been any response from the chinese leadership on mr biden's win.

that is mainly because as you have just been discussing, it remains a slightly contentious election, as far as donald trump sees it. protocol reign supreme in this country, so i think we are unlikely to get anything official from the beijing government, certainly today. it may even be a few days. we haven't even seen anything from state media, which is often used as a conduit for the government's semi—official view. at the moment, nothing. if it is confirmed to china's satisfaction and we get the news thatjoe biden, or china gets the news thatjoe biden is, without doubt, the next occupant of the white house, what do we expect it to be? when the words come, i don't think the language will be anything new. a peaceful coexistence, maybe even talk ofjoining hands to fight the virus. none of that will be new. the most important thing, this is

the relationship that will define the relationship that will define the future of the world, frankly, the future of the world, frankly, the us and china, this rising power, the us and china, this rising power, the well‘s number two economy. going forward , the well‘s number two economy. going forward, they will not be a sudden, substantial about turn from the biden administration when it comes, to the trade row, the big issue of confrontation between these two countries at the moment. us diplomats in the run—up to this week, have said as much, speaking in private to people like me. joe biden has said of consulting eye lies when it comes to the raft of tariffs imposed on chinese imports, that has been the most used tool by donald trump's administration. but that is as far as he has gone in terms of any sudden about turn in terms of those tariffs. what we will see is a recalibration, attempt to build strength in terms of regional alliances. south korea, japan among those. in terms of trying to deal with china's hugely increasing

influence in this part of the world. the virus, of course, there won't be any more talk of the china virus under a biden administration, any more talk of the china virus undera biden administration, but any more talk of the china virus under a biden administration, but i think that will be the most important and revealing test of what the relationship will be between beijing and washington, dc. china will expect the biden administration to come back into the fold on those multilateral agencies like the world health organization. but with that will come increased pressure as well, possibly, for china to be more transparent on where this virus started, how it started and what it will do to make sure it doesn't come back again in the future. despite the projected results, donald trump has yet to concede defeat. however, in a statement from the white house earlier — an official suggested that mr trump would "accept the results of a free and fair election". earlier, my colleague karin giannone spoke to harmeet dhillon, a legal adviser to the trump campaign, and asked her to clarify the president's position.

they are still counting the votes in several american states. there are multiple lawsuits pending and no state has yet to certify the results of the election. so it is premature for anybody to either declare victory or to concede defeat and we need to let that process play out before we had that conversation in our country. the judgment is in declaring this forjoe biden, it has gone beyond the point that donald trump could overturn that result. how many lawsuits are we talking about, do you think? there are still several key states, we call them swing states, that are in play. the ballots are being counted, hundreds of thousands of ballots being counted. there are lawsuits pending in arizona and in pennsylvania, there have been lawsuits in georgia and there may be more lawsuits filed. they are going to be some

automatic recount, including in georgia because of the margin of victory, i recount has been requested in wisconsin as well. until these issues are completed and the results determined, we are not going to have an outcome. a lot of the states i just going to have an outcome. a lot of the states ijust mentioned, the margin of victory so far is not conclusive forjoe biden and it is less tha n conclusive forjoe biden and it is less than i%. with recount, historically you can get back some of those votes if there are inaccuracies, and some have admitted inaccuracies. at the end of this, if the president turns out not to in those states, then he will concede. you are talking about inaccuracies, what are these lawsuits based on? are there still allegations of widespread fraud, as the president has been alleging without any basis, orare has been alleging without any basis, or are we talking about administrative errors? there are

both. your remark of you saying there is no evidence, there are affidavits being filed. are you saying there is evidence? there is evidence of widespread fraud? excuse me, don't interrupt me, ijust said there are affidavits, that is voters and election officials who are saying there have been fraudulent occurrences. do saying there have been fraudulent occurrences. do you saying there have been fraudulent occurrences. do you think donald trump will increasingly see that this legal route will not yield the fruits that he hoped for and that we might seea fruits that he hoped for and that we might see a concession sooner, rather than later from the president? i don't think you will see a concession until all the ballots are counted and the lawsuit is determined. there is an outline in our electoral system, december the 8th, the safe harbour deadline for the system to declare the

results. many places, including california, where i am still counting. when the deadline occurs we will have a determination. until then there is another deadline of december the 14th for the electors to vote in each other‘s states. even then they don't agree because there isa then they don't agree because there is a degree in pennsylvania. the state legislator might determine the outcome. there are a lot of contingencies between now and then. there have beenjubilant scenes across the united states, as supporters ofjoe biden gathered in the streets to celebrate his victory. our correspondent clive myrie has been looking at the reaction across the nation. cheering. horns blare. this is the soundtrack of the biden campaign, and now a new america. in the age of covid—i9, his election rallies were drive—in and socially distanced. supporters honked in his speeches, instead of applauding.

chanting: it's all over! it's all over! outside their cars, the president—elect‘s ecstatic supporters, no less noisy. now go home! ..in the shadow of the building where election votes are being counted. the subjects of their ire — forlorn donald trump supporters across this philadelphia street. america's rancorous political divide in miniature. joe biden says he wants to bring both sides together, he wants to be a leader for all america. at the moment, they can't even share the same street without barricades and the police. donald trump lost in part because suburban women turned on him. listen to penny olds and her daughter, hattie, who set up a facebook group to supportjoe biden. we started with four and we ended with 142. it was incredibly empowering. and it was therapy for us women who felt disregarded. i'm a woman in my 205 and it'sjust

really important for people my age to be behind someone who supports us to the full. four more years! but tim trimble, who once called essex home, says donald trump's fight isn't over. he has not lost the election. i think because bbc and cnn and abc calls it, that's irrelevant. # it's fun to stay at the y—m—c—a. meanwhile, on the same street in another america, they're dancing forjoe, and won't sleep. clive myrie, bbc news, in philadelphia. just a reminder that you are watching bbc news and we have been reporting throughout the weekend on the victory ofjoe biden and his vice president running mate, kamala harris. mr biden ended up with 279

votes in the us electoral college and will take office as president of the united states on wednesday the 20th of january. we will have the coverage. you 20th of january. we will have the coverage. you are 20th of january. we will have the coverage. you are watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomas shafernaker. it has been pretty grey and drizzly out there today. the rain has also been heavy in northern ireland. it looks as though it is going to stay like it too much of the day across most of the country. but the weather will improve somewhat a little bit later on in south—western parts of england, wales and northern ireland. the reason is the weather front is starting to clear these areas. see this gap in the cloud? the clear whether it is just starting to filter into south—western parts of england. just like yesterday, this weather front has brought very mild air, coming all the way from the mediterranean and spain. it has been

moving across france, northwards and spreading across the country. it may look really unpleasant, grey and drizzly but it is actually quite mild out there. the temperatures this afternoon will probably peak around 16 degrees, 15 or 16 degrees. in the south of the country, double figures across the board. belfast at around 14. it is way above the average. let's look at the forecast for this evening and overnight. not a lot changes, a lot of cloud across the uk. bits and pieces of rain into tomorrow as well. you can see showers developing by the end of the night across the south. these are the overnight lows, so double figures across large parts of the country, dipping to 8 degrees it may be in the lowlands of scotland. this is the weather map for monday and another weather front moving in across south—western part of the country. from the morning onwards, a good chance of running into some showers. some of them could be heavy. the best chance of some

bright, if not sunny weather for a time, is across parts of scotland, may aberdeenshire, around inverness there could be some sunshine. i6 may aberdeenshire, around inverness there could be some sunshine. 16 in there could be some sunshine. 16 in the south, “i in liverpool, 11! in belfast and double figures as far north as our friends in lerwick. into next week, monday, tuesday and wednesday, we are expecting by wednesday, we are expecting by wednesday, this weather front to move in. you can wednesday, this weather front to move in. you can see some more substantial rain sweeping across ireland are moving into parts of wales and other areas of england and scotland. western areas on when the state will have at times, gale force winds around coasts and also outbreaks of rain. that's it from me, goodbye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... joe biden says his win in the american election as a convincing victory for "the people" — and promises to unite and heal the country. i pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but to unify. who doesn't see red states and blue states, only sees the united states. the victory for mr biden and his running mate — kamala harris — who will make history by becoming the first female vice president —sparked nationwide celebrations among democrat supporters.