you can listen via bbc sounds. updates on bbc news online. let's return to our main story, the inauguration in washington dc, which involved not only the president, but also the new vice—president. 56—year—old kamala harris is the first woman, the first black american, and first person of south asian descent to hold that position. our correspondent lebo diseko joins us from the white house. ladies and gentlemen, the vice president—elect of the united states, kamala devi harris... it took nearly 250 years for america to reach this moment, for a woman to hold the second highest office in the country. i, kamala devi harris, do solemnly swear... ..that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states.

america's new vice president is the daughter of immigrants, born to an indian mother and jamaican father. both were involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, something she says shaped her. i was taught that i had a responsibility to be a part of the fight forjustice. that quest for justice perhaps the motivation for her career in law, rising to become the attorney general of her home state of california. but there are those who say she's not the progressive prosecutor that she claims to be. they point to an approach they say was too harsh on black men and say she didn't do enough to tackle police brutality. i stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the united states. in 2019, she launched her own bid to become us president. it was unsuccessful, but there was one particularly memorable moment. during a debate, she hit out atjoe biden for working

with senators who'd supported racial segregation and for his opposition to bussing black children to white schools. you know, there was a little girl in california who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bussed to school every day, and that little girl was me. but it didn't stop mr biden from choosing her as his running mate. we did it, we did it, joe! you're going to be the next president of the united states. for her childhood friend, this is a moment that she was made for. did you see this in herfuture, when you were kids or teenagers? 0h, absolutely not! we were kids and teenagers, no, we were bad! laughs we hung out... no, but as she progressed into her world and got into the da's office and then the attorney general, i saw, yes, this... you know, you could be the president of the united states. and look at you, she's right here. kamala harris is a step away

from the presidency, but with this honour comes the burden of expectation and responsibility. the wounds inflicted by america's divisions are still raw. she will have to try and heal a country in chaos while carrying the weight of her historic victory. lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. that's all from us tonight. in a moment on bbc one, we'll have the news where you are. before that, here's a reminder of the words and images which marked the inauguration ofjoe biden as the united states began a new chapter in its history. good night. applause

twilight's last gleaming... # with the... i twilight's last gleaming... # with the...— twilight's last gleaming... # with the... twilight's last gleaming... #with the... ., y , ., # with the... i do solemnly swear. # with the... i do solemnly swear. # on the ramparts _ # with the... i do solemnly swear. # on the ramparts we _ # with the... i do solemnly swear. # on the ramparts we watched... l # 0n the ramparts we watched... wrote the will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

this is bbc world news, i'm kasi madera with the headlines. as we spent the day seeing those historic images from washington. in just a few moments will bring you up

to date on how the international papers are looking at the events in the united states. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are former conservative adviser mo hussein and chief executive of the new economics foundation think tank, miatta fahnbulleh. tomorrow's front pages, starting with... and one story dominates most of tomorrow's papers the inauguration of america's 46th president. �*democracy has prevailed' joe biden�*s words hailing democracy is the lead on the front of the guardianand on the front page of the the financial times, along with his pledge to end the �*uncivil war�*, a messaged echoed on the front of tomorrow's gulf news with �*we have much to repair and heal�* leadingwhile hope for a �*brighterfuture'

and a celebatory fist—bump make the cover on the mirror's report. the metro welcomes the start ofjoe biden�*s presidency with a familiar expression �*now make america great again�*. meanwhile the mail reflects on the former president — donald trump�*s exit from the white house on his final day. and the straits times looks ahead to what the biden administration means for tackling the pandemic and social issues. so let�*s begin... a quick look through some of the international papers that we have. as always, it�*s really good to have you both with us. i�*m sure you spent like all of us watching the tv on what has been history in the making. 0n so many different ways. let�*s just focus on the financial times.

the paper using joe biden is own words, democracy have prevailed. what is your initial reaction to what we have been seeing throughout the day coming to us live from washington? i the day coming to us live from washington?— the day coming to us live from washington? i think it was really owerful washington? i think it was really powerful words. _ washington? i think it was really powerfulwords. i— washington? i think it was really powerful words. i think - washington? i think it was really powerful words. i think there - washington? i think it was really powerful words. i think there is i washington? i think it was really| powerful words. i think there is a strong sense of relief. that actually felt like an incredibly turbulent transition of power, the scenes on the capital, absolutely unprecedented. all of that was sort of managed through. and in the end there was a peaceful transfer of power. and i think he made that point really well. and in that i think gave us a sense of hope, a sense of resolve and resilience. which i think will resonate with lots of people whether they voted for him or not. and that there was something really poignant seeing lots of former presidents all their at his inauguration. 0bviously, trump very much not there. the fact

that there were others they are, the fact that former vice president mike pence was there. i think gave that sense that actually the business of democracy has continued and withheld in a difficult period of time. yes don'tjump _ in a difficult period of time. yes don'tjump not _ in a difficult period of time. yes don'tjump not there. very in a difficult period of time. yes don't jump not there. very typically don�*tjump not there. very typically medically put. certainly what the daily mirror is picking up on. this day of history, a day of hope. and of course a day of somebody for us when we look at the image kamala harris. the vice president, where all can be really intrigued to see whether she could potentially be the next president of the united states. she could be. it certainly was an historic— she could be. it certainly was an historic moment. given that she is the first_ historic moment. given that she is the first female vice president but also the _ the first female vice president but also the first vice president from an asian. — also the first vice president from an asian, black background. i think that in_ an asian, black background. i think that in itsetf— an asian, black background. i think that in itself speaks volumes. that i think— that in itself speaks volumes. that i think is_

that in itself speaks volumes. that i think is another picture of america _ i think is another picture of america. a picture at that sadly we haven't— america. a picture at that sadly we haven't seen for the last few weeks and months. ithink haven't seen for the last few weeks and months. i think that is probably more _ and months. i think that is probably more in _ and months. i think that is probably more in tune — and months. i think that is probably more in tune with what america is and can— more in tune with what america is and can he — more in tune with what america is and can he i_ more in tune with what america is and can be. i think even the headlines— and can be. i think even the headlines that democracy has prevailed that in itself is quite shocking _ prevailed that in itself is quite shocking to hear coming from the united _ shocking to hear coming from the united states which is meant to be the leading light of democracy. and we are _ the leading light of democracy. and we are talking about this as it was a bit _ we are talking about this as it was a bit touching because it was. i think— a bit touching because it was. i think what— a bit touching because it was. i think what has happened has been really. _ think what has happened has been really, really shocking for some not 'ust really, really shocking for some not just for— really, really shocking for some not just for america but for the entire world _ just for america but for the entire world that— just for america but for the entire world. that looks to america for leadership— world. that looks to america for leadership in these matters. and really— leadership in these matters. and really hope now certainly messaging and president biden speech around unity and _ and president biden speech around unity and a — and president biden speech around unity and a call for going back to stability— unity and a call for going back to stability and maybe not being in the headlines— stability and maybe not being in the headlines for the wrong reasons but the right— headlines for the wrong reasons but the right reasons will certainly be welcome — the right reasons will certainly be welcome. ., ., , ~ the right reasons will certainly be welcome. ., ., , . ., welcome. the idea of unity. we heard that so much — welcome. the idea of unity. we heard that so much throughout _ welcome. the idea of unity. we heard that so much throughout the - welcome. the idea of unity. we heard that so much throughout the day. - welcome. the idea of unity. we heard that so much throughout the day. for| that so much throughout the day. for ghetto necking up on theirs. it�*s had time —— le figaro. the dream

unity something that you�*re buying himself talked about in his speech. there is a long way to go for that to happen. not least the country so divided. 0ne to happen. not least the country so divided. one has to remind all those who voted, record numbers voting for president sean. 3�*5 who voted, record numbers voting for president sean-— president sean. 75 million people. i don't think biden _ president sean. 75 million people. i don't think biden won _ president sean. 75 million people. i don't think biden won but _ president sean. 75 million people. i don't think biden won but there - president sean. 75 million people. i don't think biden won but there is l president sean. 75 million people. i don't think biden won but there is a don�*t think biden won but there is a huge amount of people behind president sean. his tone and message of unity was absolutely the right ones. i think he played it really well. it was really rooted, there solid, authentic. ithink well. it was really rooted, there solid, authentic. i think it would have resonated. i think he used the words lots and lots of time and that is the big take away. and the thing that really struck me was the point that really struck me was the point that give me a chance. and you might not agree with me and that�*s okay. but let�*s disagree civilly. it�*s a different tone of politics after a really course, angry, devices and

based politics that we�*ve had. and i for want to feel a sense of relief. it's for want to feel a sense of relief. it�*s simple, it�*s decent, it�*s the way that politics ought to be. where you can disagree. but the anger, the rage, the heat behind that disagreement is put to one side so that you can find common cause and consensus. i think that is his style couldn�*t be any different from trump. i think is right there are huge challenges facing the us but also countries globally. and you need that sense of common purpose and unity if you want any chance of being able to navigate them. guilt being able to navigate them. gulf news also picking up on very much what you�*re saying. the need to repair, to heal, howjoe biden earlier said we must unite to confront the virus, the scourge of racism. there is a lot to do. and he�*s hit the ground running with those executive orders that we saw a little bit earlier on. him signing

from the oval office. an awful lot to do but unity once more the aim absolutely. it�*s such a career politician was so much history he knows how to work the politicians. he certainly does. i think he has -ot he certainly does. i think he has got good — he certainly does. i think he has got good relationships across the aisle _ got good relationships across the aisle and — got good relationships across the aisle. and he will be able to connect _ aisle. and he will be able to connect people and bring about some bipartisanship. i think you will point — bipartisanship. i think you will point out _ bipartisanship. i think you will point out the challenges that are faced _ point out the challenges that are faced by— point out the challenges that are faced by all americans. he spoke about— faced by all americans. he spoke about governing for all americans. america _ about governing for all americans. america has reached a very grim milestone — america has reached a very grim milestone of for hundred thousand deaths _ milestone of for hundred thousand deaths sadly from covid. that is his first priority — deaths sadly from covid. that is his first priority. as is ending the racial— first priority. as is ending the racial injustice that he spoke about — racial injustice that he spoke about. environmental issues that he spoke _ about. environmental issues that he spoke about. these are all things in history _ spoke about. these are all things in history talk— spoke about. these are all things in history. talk of unity i think unity can slightly be an intangible thing for separates a kind of thing that a lot of— for separates a kind of thing that a lot of people would say if you were to become — lot of people would say if you were to become president or prime

minister _ to become president or prime minister. but at the moment for him this was— minister. but at the moment for him this was a _ minister. but at the moment for him this was a very real challenge in america. — this was a very real challenge in america. a _ this was a very real challenge in america, a country that is that so many— america, a country that is that so many ideological and racial and even factual— many ideological and racial and even factual divides. people still believe _ factual divides. people still believe that trump won this election _ believe that trump won this election. and all the disinformation around _ election. and all the disinformation around that. i think the challenge president — around that. i think the challenge president biden now faces to try and brin- president biden now faces to try and bring the _ president biden now faces to try and bring the meaning of unity into the real world — bring the meaning of unity into the real world. what does it mean on the ground? _ real world. what does it mean on the ground? i_ real world. what does it mean on the ground? ithink real world. what does it mean on the ground? i think that will be a big thing _ ground? i think that will be a big thing for— ground? i think that will be a big thing for him. he's also got interesting markers as well. the hundred — interesting markers as well. the hundred million vaccines in the first hundred days. he did that deliberately. because he can be judged — deliberately. because he can be judged on that. i think he is raring to go— judged on that. i think he is raring to go for— judged on that. i think he is raring to go for the not a honeymoon. but he wanted — to go for the not a honeymoon. but he wanted to get moving and do it quickly _ he wanted to get moving and do it cuickl . , ,., ., he wanted to get moving and do it cuickl. , ., . ., , quickly. yes, both of them certainly rarin: to quickly. yes, both of them certainly raring to 90- — quickly. yes, both of them certainly raring to 90- the — quickly. yes, both of them certainly raring to go. the straight _ quickly. yes, both of them certainly raring to go. the straight time - raring to go. the straight time again the paper picks up all the international papers as you would expect to stop dominating this. the idea of unity. but everybody really raring to go. we saw vice president kamala harris earlier on swearing in

the newest members of the senate. history in the bacon there as well when it comes to alex madia has taken on herformer position rafael warnock and john 0ssoff. just new faces that are changing potentially the way that the senate, the balance of power there. also just the dynamic of it, the diversity of it. completely. and i think it�*s hugely encouraging that the shape of the senate. also one of the challenges of the sort of checks and balances if you don�*t have a majority in the house and senate it�*s very hard to get those things done. went biden sets out the challenges ahead of him, they are immense. they are humbling. they are terrifying. and not having the capacity to get them through both houses. not having the levers to get through what you want

to be done through both houses