this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. joe biden says his win in the american election is a convincing victory for "the people" — and promises to unite and heal the country. 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. nationwide celebrations among democrat supporters to mark the victory for mr biden and his running mate, kamala harris, who will make history by becoming the first female vice president. donald trump has not conceded. the white house said he would accept the results of a fair election.

big ben chimes. the queen has attended a ceremony to mark remembrance sunday. people across the uk have observed a two minute silence. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. it's time to stop treating our opponents as our enemies — that's the message from us president—electjoe biden. he delivered it to cheering supporters near his home in delaware after it became clear he'd won the bitterly contested election against donald trump. mr biden said it was time to end what he called the "grim era of demonisation in american politics" and he said his administration would marshal

the forces of decency, fairness, science and hope. we'll have reaction to that speech from around the world in a moment. but this report from our correspondent, lebo diseko, in washington. the president—elect of the united states of america, joe biden! cheering. 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—19 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 in office! 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. joe biden‘s election victory could see a major shift in the united states' relations with foreign powers. president trump was not afraid of criticising his allies but a president biden administration is expected to be more diplomatic. democratic senator chris coons says mr biden will work far better with foreign leaders. he will not need to learn on the job. he has very well grounded views, and you will see him restore, re—engage and reimagine our place in the world, our close alliances. he is someone who has long and deeply valued our partnership with the united kingdom, with the eu, with nato, and with other nations that share our core values, so i think you'll see a significant shift in terms of us foreign policy, in particular with regards to a closer embrace of our allies, with whom we share core values.

one of the big challenges mr biden faces as president will be us—china relations. tensions between the two countries have been mounting on issues of trade, security, and covid—19. our correspondent in beijing, robin brant, said that although the relationship between the two superpowers is likely to be more cordial in the long run, nothing much will change straight away. i think when the words come, the language won't be anything new. expect talk of a win—win relationship, peaceful coexistence, maybe even talk ofjoining hands to fight the virus. none of that will be new. i think the most important thing, and, look, this is the relationship that will define the future of the world, frankly, the us and china, this rising power, the world's number two economy. going forward there is not going to be a sudden, substantial about turn from a biden administration when it comes to the trade war, which is 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 talked of consulting allies when it comes to the raft of tariffs imposed on chinese imports. that's been the most used tool by donald trump's administration, but that's as far as he has gone in terms of any sudden about turn on those tariffs. i think what we are going to see is a recalibration, an attempt to build strength again 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, but i think that could probably be the most important and the most revealing test of what the relationship will be between beijing and washington, dc. china will expect a biden administration to come back

into the fold, as 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 is going to do to make sure it doesn't come back again the future. so far, the president seems unwilling to concede defeat and has vowed to contest election results on several fronts. so what happens now? a recount will be held in georgia, where the margins are tight and mr trump wants the same in wisconsin — which was projected for thejoe biden on the night. on saturday, the trump campaign filed a lawsuit over ballots cast on election day in arizona that it claims were incorrectly rejected. arizona's secretary of state, however, said in a statement that the case was "grasping at straws". if the election result is challenged, it would require legal teams to challenge this in the state courts. state judges would then need to uphold the challenge and order a recount,

and supreme courtjustices could then be asked to overturn a ruling. there is no evidence for the alleged voter fraud. harmeet dhillon, a legal adviser to the trump campaign, told the bbc it was far too early to say that the election was over. there is an outside deadline in our election system of december eight, thatis election system of december eight, that is called the safe harbour deadline for states to certify election results. many states in america, including california where i sit, are still counting ballots, so i sit, are still counting ballots, so that is premature. when that deadline occurs we should have a determination at that point, but even then there is still another deadline of december 14 for the electors to vote in each of the states. and even then, if they don't agree because there is a dispute in pennsylvania or some other state, the state legislature could determine the outcome, so there are a lot of contingencies between now and inauguration day in our country. so what do we know about the new president—elect.

our correspondent daniela relph has been taking a closer look. joe biden had waited a long time for his run at the white house. now, 77 years old, most of it spent in politics, few could match him on experience, and nobody had a personal back story quite like his. his early career was overshadowed by tragedy. he was elected to the senate in 1972. six weeks later, his wife and baby daughter were killed in a car accident. his two sons were badly hurt. in this extraordinary moment that mixed the personal and political, at their hospital bedside, joe biden took the oath of office and never forgot those who rescued them. a guy driving a tractor trailer broadsided my wife and children and killed my wife and killed my daughter. and guys i grew up with.

the people that got me elected, they were the ones there with the jaws of life in their hands saving the life of my two sons. the personal torment almost drove him from politics. but family and influential friends persuaded him to stay. his focus became foreign affairs, tearing into ronald reagan's policy on apartheid in south africa. our loyalty is not to south africa, it's to south africans! and the south africans are majority black and they are being excoriated! it is not to some stupid puppet government over there! he married again and ran for president in 1987 but pulled out after using an extract of a speech by britain's former labour leader neil kinnock without attribution. america's intervention in the balkan wars was partly due to his pressure on bill clinton. we're told we're not taking sides. i'm here to take sides! mladic is a war criminal!

the leader of the bosnian serbs, he is no better than himmler! joe biden! in 2008, he ran for the presidency again. his campaign lost steam but his popularity, blue collar roots and foreign policy expertise impressed the eventual winner, barack obama. as a vice presidential nominee, he said goodbye to the senate after nearly a0 years. i say for the last time with more gratitude than i can express, i yield the floor. i will bear true faith and allegiance to the state. joe biden was a forceful voice at the heart of the administration. sceptical on sending more american troops to iraq, in favour of gay rights and same—sex marriage, despite a deep catholic faith. this also gives the internet one last chance to... laughter. ..talk about our bromance!

his strong relationship with barack obama was plain to see. when his son beau died of cancer in 2015, joe biden sat out the next presidential race. hello, detroit! but in 2019, he decided to give it one last try. in a campaign dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, most polls had put him ahead and there was that bad—tempered debate with donald trump. will you shut up, man? who is — listen, who is on your list, joe? who's on your list? gentlemen... well, it's hard to get any words in with this clown. there were gaffes, forgetfulness, donald trump continued with the sleepyjoe attacks. he was also accused of being over—tactile with female colleagues. but he is a natural politician, connecting to people through his experience of both public life and personal tragedy. often saying, "it's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how quickly you get back up". daniela relph, bbc news.

as vice—president—elect, kamala harris is also set to make history. she will be the first woman, the first black and the first asian—american to hold the position. nomia iqbal looks at her rise to the second highest office in the country. the nation was born with the words, "all men are created equal." it's taken more than two centuries for that promise to begin to be realised by a woman. kamala harris struggled when she ran to be the democratic party's pick for president, but later found a role as the progressive counterweight to joe biden‘s more establishment candidacy. joe biden and i are proud, patriotic americans who share the values with the vast majority of the american people, who want a president of the united states who speaks truth.

she was born in california to immigrant parents ofjamaican and indian heritage. she was elected to the senate four years ago, off the back of a successful career as a prosecutor — something that later damaged her support among some liberals, who thought she'd been too tough on african—american defendants. she graduated from this university, where her elevation to the nation's second—highest office is viewed as hugely symbolic. i have to admit, i'm still in a bit of shock about it. like, i'm thrilled, i wanted this to happen. i imagine she's going to take all the things that she learned over her lifetime and put them into policy, which will make her, again, more than a symbol, it will make her a politician of substance. cam-el-uh? it's not kuh—mahl—uh. it's not karmel—uh. .. but she still had to teach the country how to say her name. i'm kamala harris. and she was openly attacked by the president. i thought she was the meanest...

..the most horrible, most disrespectful of anybody in the us senate. if kamala harris had been born more than 100 years ago, she would not have been able to vote and, as a black woman, she would have had no rights. but, now, she's set to become the most powerful and influential woman in american political history. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. there have been celebrations in the vice president—elect‘s ancestral village in india. the people of thulasendrapuram, a small village in the indian state of tamil nadu, woke up early to celebrate the first south asian american to win the second—highest us office. carrying portraits of kamala harris, residents gathered around fireworks and took part in prayers.

others drew colourful kolams, calling her the ‘pride of the village'. harris' mother emigrated from india to the us when she was 19. as we saw earlier, the result of the election was greeted with jubilation by democratic supporters across the us. our correspondent clive myrie has been looking at the reaction. cheering. horns blare. this is the soundtrack of the biden campaign, and now a new america. in the age of covid—19, 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 voters 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 20s 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 for joe, and won't sleep. clive myrie, bbc news, in philadelphia. the united states has always enjoyed what is termed a ‘special relationship‘ with the uk. so will this continue under president—elect biden? joining me is sir nigel sheinwald who served as uk ambassador to the united states between 2007 and 2012. and he was also mr biden‘s next door neighbour in washington. good morning. the uk ambassador‘s residences next to the vice president of‘s residence. what was he like? i think your programme is bringing out quite a lot of it. he comes across as a pragmatist, an internationalist, and a bit of a traditionalist, because he was in

the senate for four decades, he has occupied the second highest office in the land and will now occupy the highest office in the land. friendly, human, approachable. that's his stock in trade. as a politician, he is one of those who puts his arm around you, rolls up his sleeves and negotiates. a very different style, obviously, from president trump, but actually a very different style from a lot of maybe the more present generation of politicians who resort much more to communication through social media and getting the message out, rather than the more practical politics of sitting down and sorting out the issues with your friends and your adversaries. beyond the rhetoric we have heard about unity, do you think he has the vision and intelligence to heal some of the divisions in the united states? i think that will ta ke united states? i think that will take a long time because it has been

a long time building. it's not a light switch, it will take a long time to do that. to do that, you need a series of successes, things that go well over a period of time, and develop trust with the significant chunk of the electorate that did not vote for him, and a smaller chunk who will have very strong adverse feelings about him. i don't think you can expect that to change overnight. what creates a trump and a brexit is a series of things over a long period. i think it's wrong to imagine that can be insta ntly it's wrong to imagine that can be instantly changed. do you expect relations between the us and the uk to initially be perhaps a little awkward given borisjohnson and donald trump admire each other so much? i don't think they need to be awkward. i think there is a question of realism. when you think about borisjohnson of realism. when you think about boris johnson and joe biden, of realism. when you think about borisjohnson and joe biden, it doesn't seem very likely that they

will be soulmates, there will be a certain amount of questioning in the biden camp certainly about brexit itself, and with borisjohnson‘s pa rt itself, and with borisjohnson‘s part in that, and the way the government has handled brexit over the last four and a bit years. the apparent recklessness over the northern ireland aspect of the brexit discussions, that will cause disquiet in washington. the team around biden and biden himself know the uk, they respect us and have a lot of time for our military, intelligence and diplomacy around the world, but i think they will look at the uk and wonder what it will become after brexit, there will be questions there and it will take a bit of time. i think if there is an awkwardness, the issue will be trying to frame a relationship which is more realistic in the post brexit world for the uk, to build a productive relationship between johnson and biden, which i think it can happen, although i don't think it is likely to be a match made in

heaven. we mentioned the special relationship, and we know how the uk has often been seen as a bridge between america and europe, so will that still exist after brexit?” don't think it's necessary but i don't think it's necessary but i don't think it's necessary but i don't think we can play that role we did at in the past because we will not be at the european decision table. we have made the decision not to be part of that. the bridge went through london and to brussels. of course we are still major players in nato but a lot of traffic was on the eu side of things and we are not pa rt eu side of things and we are not part of those inner councils in europe any longer. that was the decision we took. it's not as though the united states will discount us, but they will be waiting to hear from others how we will play a role in the world after this. the key thing we have to do is sort out our relationship with the eu, not have a fractious and toxic relationship with them, and that means getting

this deal between the uk and eu post brexit over the line. that's what borisjohnson was talking about to the commission president yesterday. they have to do that, and therefore sort out the northern ireland issue, show we have a really strong issue in security, foreign policy, counterterrorism, cooperation with the rest of europe, and i think if we build that, and a sense of statecraft and statesmanship, then that will reassure a lot of people in washington who have been wondering what the hell has been going on in britain in the last few yea rs. going on in britain in the last few years. boris johnson mentioned climate in his tweet so could that possibly be a way in as well, a place where there is common ground? definitely. i think if you look at theissues definitely. i think if you look at the issues for both our countries, there is a huge amount of alignment, on foreign policy agendas, iran, the middle east, china and russia. there is much more similarity between

british positions and biden positions than with trump and that was always the case and always the paradox with the love in between number ten and the trump white house which was always partial and qualified in my view. there is a lot to play for. the fact is that the uk has a to play for. the fact is that the uk hasa summit to play for. the fact is that the uk has a summit coming up, the important un —related climate change meeting coming up at the end of 2021. that is something that gives us 2021. that is something that gives usa 2021. that is something that gives us a role internationally and with the united states. biden will want to re—enter the paris agreement, which is exceptionally good news for the uk but a lot of other people as well. i think it can show off to good effect the effort the uk is putting into climate change, but also our international diplomacy once we get it moving on those subjects. sir nigel, very good to get your thoughts this morning and thank you forjoining us. and you

can get more on the latest from the us on the bbc website, joe biden vowing not to divide but unify the country. one other story here in the uk — socially distanced remembrance sunday commemorations have taken place in the uk today. people were urged to join the traditional two minute silence at 11 o'clock on their doorsteps. at the cenotaph in whitehall, no members of the public were allowed to attend, and only twenty—six veterans marched instead of the usual 10,000. let's have a look. big ben chimes.

our royal correspondent sarah campbelljoins us from whitehall. good morning, sarah. how has it been there today? good afternoon, it was, as we thought it would be, a slightly different ceremony, but certainly no less powerful and no less significant for that. as you said, the public are not allowed here. it is 100 years since the stone cenotaph was unveiled in 1920, and this is the first time since then the public hasn't been able to ta ke then the public hasn't been able to take part in the remembrance sunday service. so it always felt different, and where i am standing

110w different, and where i am standing now would normally be packed with crowds of people. after the two minutes' silence the service itself carried on as normal, socially distanced, and prince charles laid the first wreath on the cenotaph stone steps, on behalf of the queen, who was watching from the foreign office balcony, as she has now done since 2017, during the service. in other senior members of the royal family laid their own wreaths on the stone steps. no prince andrew or prince harry this year because they are no longer working royals. you would normally have the veterans' march past, with 10,000 marching past the cenotaph. for safety reasons that couldn't happen this year so instead of just reasons that couldn't happen this year so instead ofjust 25 were specially selected and they marched past, representing something like the 300 veterans associations, and doing so again, a very powerful

moment. it has been very unique, it has been very moving, completely silent because of the social distancing, things like the laying of the wreaths took longer because individual members of the royal family had to go up individually instead of as a group as normal. but for seven minutes from 11 o'clock in central london you couldn't hear anything. as powerful and significant as it was this year, everybody hopes this will end up being a unique service and things are back to normal next year. sarah, thank you forjoining us. time for a look at the weather with tomasz schafernaker. in south—western parts of england, wales and northern ireland, after a fairly soggy early start to the day, the weather will improve. for

south—western areas in northern ireland there could be some sunshine at the time you get a lunch time. temperatures in double figures right across the board today. this evening and overnight stays cloudy with outbreaks of rain from time to time and another very mild night. temperatures will be around ten or 12, scotland just about dipping to 8 degrees. tomorrow, the best chance of sunshine for some parts of northern scotland, maybe the north—east of england, but overall another cloudy day and the chance of running into some showers, some of them could be heavy, particularly further south and could even be a rumble of thunder. again, very mild. hello, 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.