welcome to bbc news. i'm mike embley. our top stories: joe biden and kamala harris lead a ceremony to honour the 400,000 or more americans who've died from covid—19. to heal, we must remember, and it's hard sometimes to remember. president trump releases a farewell video on his last day in office and wishes luck to his successor, without naming him. we did what we came here to do, and so much more. mr trump's last day was soured when mitch mcconnell, one of his biggest allies, accused the outgoing president of provoking the capitol riot.

in other news, another 1000 600 and 10 people have died from covid in the uk — that's the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic. people are just dying and dying and dying, you know? even though it's ourjob and we deal with people every day, this...this level, i think, has taken its toll. hello to you. 0n the eve of his inauguration, president—electjoe biden along with vice president—elect kamala harris have attended a covid memorial service in washington, in tribute to the 400,000 americans who've lost their lives to coronavirus. national landmarks were lit up in tribute. mr biden — who will spend the night at the presidential guest house blair house — paid tribute to medical workers and spoke of the importance

of healing as a nation. to heal, we must remember. and it's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal. it's important to do that as a nation. that's why we're here today. between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all whom we lost. though we may be physically separated, we the american people are united in spirit. and my abiding hope, my abiding prayer is that we emerge from this ordeal with a new wisdom, to cherish simple moments, to imagine new possibilities and to open our hearts just a little bit

more to one another. 0ur correspondent larry madowo is in washington with more. the highlight of the day was that memorial service that joe biden and kamala harris attended at that reflecting pool which provided this really beautiful ceremony but also iconic imagery. that happened just about an hour after america recorded 400,000 deaths from the coronavirus. it's a crisis that president donald trump has downplayed, even though he's taken credit for the fast rollout of the vaccine. two vaccines now approved for emergency use in the us, the moderna vaccine and the pfizer—biontech vaccine. president donald trump spending his last full day as president at the white house, just two or three blocks

from where i am standing, across the street is blair house where president—electjoe biden and his wife, doctorjill biden are spending the night. typically they are usually invited there by the outgoing president but in this case, that did not happen. who invited them 7 the state department. and tomorrow they start the day in church but the last four years have been those of chaos, the stark contrast of leadership, but it's all over now. he is riding off into the sunset. he will be at mar—a—lago where he will spend the next four years trying to rebuild his political year. 0ur north america correspondent jon sopel has his final report from the trump era. where once a sea of faces would greet the incoming president as he stood on the capitol steps, tomorrow it will be flags — thousands and thousands of stars and stripes. this is partly about covid, but even more so now about security.

the entire national mall, which stretches for two miles, has been closed off. washington, dc, has been transformed into a fortress, with 25,000 national guardsmen drafted in. razor wire and fencing everywhere. now, nearly two weeks on from the storming of congress by a mob incited by donald trump. we fight like hell. and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country any more. the shock in america over that attempt to overthrow a fair and free election seems to deepen with each passing day, not dissipate, and washington has become a city on edge. the last time the president was seen in public was a week ago when he went to the border wall, something he'd point to as one of his achievements from the four years in office. but it will be his behaviour since the election that will be his lasting legacy. the most audacious and unexpected foreign policy move came when donald trump flew to singapore to meet

his north korean counterpart, kim jong—un. the meeting diffused tensions but has done nothing to slow north korea's nuclear programme. here, donald trump's election plans were upended by the covid outbreak and the damage it did to the us economy. coronavirus didn't cost him the election, but his erratic handling of it and occasionally bizarre statements didn't help him. and then i see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that...by injection? and just a little later, america was convulsed by the death of george floyd at the hands of a white policeman. amid the protests and rioting, donald trump saw an opportunity to present himself as the tough president of law and order. tonight, he's issued a farewell video. this week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping america safe and prosperous.

but there's still no concession that he lost, and now impeached twice, it will be what's happened in america since the presidential election that donald trump will likely be remembered for. he still faces a tricky senate trial, with the influential republican leader — once a firm supporter — piling in. the mob was fed lies. they were provoked by the president and other powerful people. but from tomorrow, the focus will be onjoe biden — today leaving wilmington, delaware for the last time before he's sworn in. well, excuse the emotion, but... ..when i die, delaware will be written on my heart. there will be a flurry of announcements and actions in his first days in office, but perhaps the overriding goal will be to lower the political temperature and bring a fractured nation together. it'll be a herculean task.

jon sopel, bbc news, washington. the actual inauguration usually has around 200,000 americans attending but only about 1000 because of the coronavirus crisis and the fears and security scare after the storming of the capitol last wednesday, so it will be a very different event. it is a made—for—television inauguration unlike any we have ever seen and the thing, this big highlight for tomorrow is a 90—minute prime—time special to celebrate this inauguration. it will be the first of its kind amid this tight security but also in the middle of the pandemic so i think sean spicer, who was president trump's press secretary, would agree it is the smallest crowd to ever watch an inauguration, period. donald trump is now spending his last few hours as president and his four years in office will be looked upon as a remarkable

time in us political history. before leaving office is expected to grant presidential pardons larry sabato is the director of the center for politics at the university of virginia. he joins me from charlottesville. they were supposed to be out before now which tells me in trump world, is still arguing about some of them. remember, his pardoning power only extends to federal offences, not to state and local offences, but they are highly sought—after and apparently, some of the republican lawyers who have been handling these pardons are receiving large sums of money from clients to get the pardons. trump has the power until 12 noon tomorrow, washington time, eastern standard time. he will have it even when he is being flown down

to mar—a—lago florida, his home in exile after he leaves the presidency. we could hear of pardons on the plane at 11:59am. no—one would put this past trump and to be fair, bill clinton did onejust hours before he left office, a very controversial pardon of a financier by the name of mark ridge back in 2001. bill clinton did many. jimmy carter of course did a lot. it goes back to the roosevelt era and ultimately back to the kings of mediaeval england? yes, well, of course, the founders of the american republic wrote the pardoning power in thinking that it would check the executive, just as they like to check the king. that was their experience in the 1790s when that provision became part of the constitution. i don't know that they would necessarily approve what it's become. often there are hundreds or potentially even thousands of pardons. some arejustified, some of these pardons are coming about because criminaljustice groups have pushed them,

and the trump administration or pieces of it including the president's daughter ivanka trump has been urging the president to show some compassion right at the end. as if that's going to change the evaluation of the most controversial residency in american history. what is likely to be particularly controversial if he is pardoning people who are seen to have done favours for the president or protected the president. do you think he is likely in some way to pardon himself? i'm told he is not going to do that. i've been told many things over the past four years that he did anyway. he doesn't necessarily share what doing with key staff and aides but i've been told that he was strongly urged not to do so by the white house counsel's office, the in—house government lawyers for the president, and some members of his family, who felt that it would be an admission of guilt, which it really is.

if you accept a pardon, it seems to me the suggestion is you've done something wrong, but you believe might be seen by a court orjudges as having been wrong. so, i don't think is going to pardon himself. no—one would put it past him. i don't think he is going to pardon his kids, though at one point he wanted to, and is also been urged not to pardon three republican congressmen who have been sent to prison for some pretty awful crimes. he was going to do that at one point, or leaning toward it. and now it appears according to staff aides that he is not going to do it. but i will believe it when it's 12 noon tomorrow and nothing else has been released. we will of course be covering the inauguration ceremony live and in full here on bbc news. there's a special programme from washington presented by katty kay from 1400 gmt. donald trump is now the 45th

president of the united states. he was sworn in before several hundred thousand people on the steps of capitol hill in washington. it's going to be only america first. america first. demonstrators waiting for mike gatting and his rebel cricket team were attacked with tear gas and set upon by police dogs. anti—apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests throughout the tour. they called him - the butcher of lyon. klaus altman is being held. on a fraud charge in bolivia. the west germans want i to extradite him for crimes committed in wartime france. there, he was the gestapo chief klaus barbie. - millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot, a tide of humanity that's believed by officials to have broken all records.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: joe biden and kamala harris lead a ceremony to honour the 400,000 americans who've have died from covid—19. president trump releases a farewell video on his last day in office, and wishes luck to his successor without naming him. let's talk more about donald trump's time in office and how he will be remembered. jennifer kerns is the host of all american radio and former spokesperson for the californian republican party. i asked her what mr trump's legacy was. well, look, on the policy basis, i do think that president trump accomplished many great things. prior to the covid—19 crisis, he engineered the greatest american economic boon in american history. record women's employment, record african—american employment, record minority employment across the board. everyone who wanted a job in the united states

of america had one. he also presided over middle east peace deals that we haven't seen in our generation, and he also brought american troops back from those wars that he promised us, and he did deliver on nearly 100 promises that he made on his inauguration day four years ago which i covered here in the states. however, i do think that since the november three elections, his legacy has certainly been tarnished in his questioning of the election results. certainly, i think, a lot of americans had questions about those. one in three americans has doubts about the legitimacy of the american election, which is very concerning. 72% of republicans have concerns about the election, but i think the way that president trump and his team handled it in the lead up to the january six capitol protest is something that i think he will look back on with 2020 hindsight, no pun intended, and i think he will end up regretting.

you would surely also have to acknowledge that he mishandled a pandemic that's now killed almost as many americans as died in the second world war and incited a mob to storm the houses of congress to try to overturn a free and fair election, murder the vice president and kidnapped or murder lawmakers, that's going to be on his record, isn't it? well, look. the 800,000 americans who converged on the capitol a week or so ago onjanuary six were there in peace. it with a couple of thousand people who obviously had planned this out for a great deal of time that did that, so i think there were some bad actors mixed into that group of freedom—loving americans who went there, but i think you are right. i think at the end of the day, the american people decided that covid—19 was above and beyond the most important issue of the year and i think that came as a huge surprise to president trump. look, he took very early

action on the pandemic. he was criticised, even, for shutting down travel and flights from other countries back injanuary of last year. he was criticised for that, and in fact it wasjoe biden who was actually still holding campaign rallies with kamala harris and other senators march nine, was pretty late in the game and it was actually sort of opposite of what you would think now. but the american people have spoken, obviously covid—19 was a great concern to them and again, i think president trump's communication skills didn't quite match up where his policy positions were, because i do think that, you know, bringing the vaccine to market with the operation warp speed was a success but he just didn't quite get credit for all of that. let's get some of the day's other news. the outgoing secretary of state, mike pompeo, has accused china of committing genocide and crimes against humanity in its far

western region of xinjiang. in what's likely to be one of his last acts, mr pompeo said an investigation had concluded that beijing had systematically tried to destroy the uighurs since 2017. the italian prime minister, giuseppe conte, has narrowly won a vote of confidence in the upper house of parliament, aided by the support of some opposition senators. the margin of victory was tighter than mr conte�*s allies had hoped. he won a similar vote in the lower house of parliament on monday and can continue to govern with a minority. germany is extending coronavirus restrictions until the middle of february. chancellor angela merkel said she wanted to avoid an explosion in infections caused by mutations. under the regulations, schools, shops, hospitality and leisure outlets will remain closed. businesses must let employees work from home where possible. the uk has recorded the highest number of covid deaths in a 24—hour period since the pandemic struck last year at more than 1,600. experts say it's likely that the coming weeks will see

figures even higher than this. many hospitals say they're now "overwhelmed", with some staff "almost on their knees" after many months of treating desperately ill patients. that's certainly the distressing reality of life at the royal london hospital. and in the second of his special reports, clive myrie discovers the heavy price being paid by both staff and patients. the birth of a new day brings a familiar demon — more covid infections and more death. and it's others who must stare into the abyss to spare our eyes. like hannah, a senior mortician at the royal london hospital, part of a small team ofjust five that's handled hundreds of bodies in this pandemic. how do you ever prepare for people just dying and dying and dying?

although it's ourjob and we deal with dead people every day, this level, i think, has taken its toll. does it feel like a conveyor belt? it does, it does, in a way, yes. i hate to say that, because i hate to think of it like that, but yeah, yeah, it is, almost, yeah. that's what the pandemic�*s done, i mean... yeah. it's no—one�*s fault. no. sorry. i've done this for years, you know, i'mjust, when someone says to you, "how does it make you feel?" and you say how it makes you feel, yeah, this is how it makes me feel. 12 out of 15 floors, more than 400 patients, and there are not enough staff.

it's madness. and curiously, despite all the drugs and fancy equipment, the simple technique of periodically turning over a covid patient — or proning, can help force oxygen into scarred lungs. but the manpower needed is immense. turning and turning and turning again. day after day. frightening, one word that defines covid's second wave for the nhs. heartbreaking is another. as marie healy checks on a 28—year—old man with no underlying conditions, but who has been on a ventilator for more than three weeks. obviously very distressing and this is a very serious complication at this stage. he also has other family members in critical care as we speak. time to call his wife.

now, i know that he is quite sick. he could die from this, by the way. i'm sorry to have to say that. i know, love. i know. don't worry. we're doing everything we can for him. it's very difficult because this poor family have been through a huge amount. and they're actually so nice. that makes it more difficult. the inner turbulence revealed. the rain mirrors shamima's recent tears for her family. she took marie's call, as her husband fights

for his life. his condition remains serious, on life support. clive myrie, bbc news. the reality of staff and patients at the royal london. that was clive murray reporting. the former conservative prime minister theresa may has accused her successor boris johnson of abandoning what she called britain's position of global moral leadership. writing in the daily mail newspaper to mark the inauguration of us presidentjoe biden, she criticised mrjohnson for failing to honour british values — when he threatened to break international law — during the brexit trade talks. 12 miners trapped underground after an explosion in a chinese gold mine 10 days ago are believed to still be alive. the fate of another 10 remains unclear. they sent back a note saying "don't stop trying to reach us" when rescuers seeking signs of life lowered down food

rations taped to wire cable. mark lobel reports. rescuers feeding out a human lifeline to provide the liquid food for the survivors. medicines are also being sent 540 metres underground, as fears of rising water levels they grow. signs of life emerged on sunday after rescuers knocked down in hope, and suddenly, a poll on the rope from below. to the sheer delight of all. then, a handwritten note from the miners emerged seeing 11 of the 22 trapped are together, with a 12 minor close by, reporting injuries and high blood pressure, but with ten others unaccounted for. translation: we will continue _ unaccounted for. translation: we will continue to _ unaccounted for. translation: we will continue to check- unaccounted for. translation: we will continue to check for- we will continue to check for signs of life and contact

people trapped underground. we are also speeding up the cleaning of the main shaft, and drilling other rescue holes. poorly enforced safety regulations mean mining accidents in china are not uncommon, but a day's delay in reporting this one after the initial explosion by the exit of the goldmine under construction has already cost two officials theirjobs, as questions remain over the cause of the blast. questions remain over the cause of the blast-— of the blast. translation: a team led by shan dong - of the blast. translation: a- team led by shan dong emergency investigation department is investigating the cause of the accident. it's been carried out in accordance with the law and we will never miss any detail a person responsible for this accident. person responsible for this accident-— person responsible for this accident. , , , ., accident. using newly phone line, the _ accident. using newly phone line, the surviving _ accident. using newly phone line, the surviving miners i accident. using newly phone | line, the surviving miners say they are very weak, and asked not to be forgotten. in a lighter moment, they express their thanks for all nutritious food, porridge, and medicine sent down the thin tunnel, but

hope for sausages soon. and you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter — i'm @bbcmikeembley. thank you for watching. hello there. storm christoph will bring disruptive weather over the next 48 hours. the rain's been falling through the day on tuesday, already mounting up to over an inch in places, and there's a lot more rain yet to come. and as it bumps into the cold air in the north, potential for snow as well. let's focus on the rain because in some parts of england and wales, we could have around 150—200 mm of rain falling over the hills onto ground that's already saturated. river levels are already high. so, this amber warning from the met office highlights those areas particularly saturated at the moment with the high river levels plus the snowmelt to take account of as that also runs into the river systems but it's no means exclusively these areas. as i mentioned, it's wet right the way up into northern ireland and southern scotland with the added potential of several centimetres

of snow falling on some parts of the southern uplands, possibly even the central lowlands through the night, and ice, too. furthersouth, it's milder, it's windier, and that south—westerly wind, that moist south—westerly wind, keeps pumping that rain up onto the hills and mountains of england and wales through the day but there'll be some heavier rain elsewhere as well. so, a fairly grey, wet, windy sort of day and with some risk of snow as well as further rain across some northern areas. so, quite a contrast in our temperature and that really comes into play later in the day on wednesday because as that colder air starts to dig southwards as that low pressure, storm christoph, starts to move out into the north sea and the cold air digs in, it will turn the rain progressively to snow. even at lower levels, potentially 5—10 cm through wednesday night and into thursday. certainly more over the hills. notjust scotland but, exclusively, we could see some across the hills of northern england, too. and the winds by that stage — as the low pressure, storm christoph, moves out into the north sea — get towards gale or even severe gale force winds.

so blowing that snow around, blizzard conditions but at least they're blowing that rain away by that stage. however, by that stage, we will have seen significant amounts of rainfall, as i say, and the flood risk really is going to escalate in the next 12—24 hours. then the cold air digs in and things slowly start to quieten down but between now and then, we've got that heightened flood risk across england and wales with persistent rain and several hundred millimetres in places, and then that snow risk — heavy snow with drifting and blizzards in the north. the weather warnings and the flood warnings all on the website.

this is bbc news. the headlines: 0n the eve of his inauguration, us president—electjoe biden has led a powerful tribute to the 400,000 or more americans lost to the coronavirus, as he arrived in in washington, with his wifejill. with vice president—elect kamala harris also attending the memorial, mr biden said the united states must heal as a nation. donald trump has released a farewell video on his last day in office and wished luck to his successor, joe biden. however, he did not name the president—elect. mr trump also said he was proud of what has been achieved over the past four years. the most powerful republican in the senate, mitch mcconnell, has directly blamed donald trump for the riot at the us capitol

two weeks ago. mr mcconnell said the mob was "fed lies" and "provoked by the president and other powerful people". those other powerful people". remarks could have serious those remarks could have serious implications for mr trump when he faces a senate impeachment trial. it is about 3:30am. now on bbc news: panorama. this programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting from the start. i cannot breathe. deep breaths. i cannot breathe... i think if they hadn't used excessive force he would still be here today. this man died after being restrained by police. chanting: i can't breathe! these same words were uttered two years later by george floyd whose death sparked outrage on both sides of the atlantic. in the uk, if you're black, you're more than twice as likely as a white person to die in police custody. relax and you won't get hurt.

this has got to stop.