welcome to bbc news — my name's mike embley. our top stories: a new day for america — joe biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the united states. we learn again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile. kamala harris takes the oath of office as vice president — making history as the first woman ever to hold the post. getting straight to work — the new president signs a raft of executive orders — and says he received

a personal note from his predecessor. it was a very generous letter and because it was private, i won't talk about it. the democrats take control of the senate — swearing in new members — giving president biden a narrow majority in both chambers of congress. music. the inauguration ofjoe biden has taken place in remarkably different scenes to those previously. it took place about the public and amid intense security thanks to the storming of the capitol two weeks before, calling for unity and an end to the nations on civil war, ending unconventionally with a grand fireworks display.

we look back on a different inauguration. music. so far, so normal. announcer: ladies and - gentlemen, the president-elect of the united states. this is what america does every four years, but everything about today was exceptional, given the last two weeks, given the pandemic and the security situation, given the presidency at first glance, the west front of the capital looks much as it always does on inauguration day, but look towards the washington monument and the normal forest of people has been replaced by a garden of flags. a socially distanced inauguration for a nation tearing itself apart. the oath of office, taken by the man who's now tasked with healing the nation's wounds. ijoseph robinette bidenjunior do solemnly square... that i will faithfully execute... the office of president

of the united states... the platform where he stood two weeks ago was the stagin post for the assault on congress, then the mob ruled. today, democracy had come through, but it was a close run thing. we have learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. cheering and applause. he warned america was in the midst of a winter of peril, and has any new president had to confront such an array of problems — covid, economic turbulence, racial unrest. and the passions inflamed by donald trump's insistence that the election was stolen. today, on this january day, my whole soul is in this. bringing america together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and i ask every american to join me in this cause. joe biden never mentioned donald trump by name, but it was a firm repudiation of all that he stood for,

though he was careful to reach out to the former president's supporters. we must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. we can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. at 78 years old, joe biden becomes the oldest man to become president, but the real history is being made by his deputy, kamala harris, the first woman vice president, the first of black and indian heritage, an example of the american dream. so help me god. applause.

though covid has brought drabness, this inauguration had sparkle, with lady gaga, complete with gold microphone, singing the national anthem. # what so proudly we hailed at the twilight�*s last gleaming. and jennifer lopez, too. # let's get loud. the political good and great were out in force, three former presidents were in attendance, republican and democrat — and former vice president mike pence was there as well, choosing the inauguration over a rival attraction a few miles away. —— and former vice president mike pence was there as well, choosing the inauguration over a rival attraction a few miles away. and that's because donald trump had decided to break with 150 years of tradition and snubjoe biden. normally, the outgoing president meets the successor at the front door and rides with him to the capitol, but mr trump was slipping out the back, still incapable of accepting that he lost the election. though the former reality tv host—turned film director, tried to orchestrate his own departure. he awarded himself a military sendoff, complete with

21 gun salute and his parting shot will have delighted his supporters and horrified his detractors. a goodbye, we love you, we will be back in some form. and the music was spot on as he flew off on air force one for the last time. # it was my way... by the time now ex—president trump arrived in florida, melania had gone from sombre black to beach club chic. never comfortable in washington, she might find the transformation a whole lot easier than her husband. joe biden is now in the white house and he wants to hit the ground running. there will be a flurry

of executive orders to reverse a lot of trump era policies, but policy always change with a new president. what will be so different is the manner of governing. crazy town is likely to be replaced by dullsville but maybe that's what america needs right now. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. well immediately after the inauguration president biden set to work in the oval office. he signed i7 executive actions, 15 executive orders, some of which will reverse decisions made by his predecessor, former president trump. the executive actions will make changes to the us response to the covid—i9 pandemic and try to ease some of the financial strain placed on americans resulting from the pandemic. but other executive actions directly target and undo mr. trump's actions on the environment, immigration, the us census, and regulatory changes. a couple of hours ago president biden�*s press secretary, jen psaki, held her first briefing. she was asked how she and the president plan to combat disinformation. well, ithink, peter,

there are a number of ways to combat misinformation. one of them is accurate information and truth and data, and sharing information even when it is hard to hear. and even when it is not meeting the expectations of people at home who are desperate for this crisis to be over. we'll have more to share with you in the next few days, hopefully before the weekend, but what we plan to do is not just return these daily briefings — monday through friday, not saturdays and sundays, i'm not a monster — but also to return briefings with our health officials and public health officials. we want to do those regularly, in a dependable way, with data shared with all of you and with the public so they can also track progress we're making on getting the pandemic under control. we can now speak to moe vela who was a former senior advisor to president biden in the previous obama administration.

many supporters. he says, "we will be back. it is an enormous challenge forjoe biden to unite the country. is it even possible? i think _ unite the country. is it even possible? i think it - unite the country. is it even possible? i think it is - unite the country. is it even possible? i think it is even l possible? i think it is even possible. but i've been thinking for a long time, and especially applicable today, if joe biden cannot do it, anybody can. the man possesses that unique compilation of characteristics and integrity, compassion, empathy, experience, leadership and that compilation is what's required right now. at this moment in inflection in american history sophie can't do it, i don't

know anybody who could. when he said democracy _ know anybody who could. when he said democracy prevailed - know anybody who could. when he said democracy prevailed and - know anybody who could. when he said democracy prevailed and we i said democracy prevailed and we need to end this on civil war, there was not a repeat of the events two weeks ago but perhaps because there were 25,000 of the national guard there to prevent it. there is every sign there is trouble to come, even if today, those who are involved in those events or were sympathetic maybe thought it was not worth it, we're not going to manage it today. i think that this is an unprecedented time for any incoming president of the united states. again, the unique combination of crises. we've never seen anything like this before. so he understands. i know he is a great —— pragmatic and clear eyed and very focused. he understands the magnitude of the challenge before him but also possesses a very unique gift as a human

being, the gift to be able to connect and find common ground with people of all different perspectives and ideologies and philosophies. and i admire that about him, i have loved that about him, i have loved that about him, i have loved that about him and again, that's what's going to be required. will it happen overnight? absolutely not. there is no miracle wand you can wave right now and we're going to hold hands tomorrow. do your point, 74 hands tomorrow. do your point, 7a million people voted for donald trump. we have to take some time now to hear each other, see each other, find common ground and try to find places we can collaborate. i think you can do that, i really do. ., ., ., do. there are more day-to-day bread-and-butter _ do. there are more day-to-day bread-and-butter type - bread—and—butter type challenges. the outgoing administration made it very difficult for the incoming administration to do prep? that's exactly right. i was

called to do management forjoe biden the first 18 months of his vice presidency so i set up the infrastructure of his office from day one, i lived this very moment in the white house. and i will tell you, not to have been able to have the collaboration i had with our predecessor, with dick cheney's office, would have made myjob 20 times more difficult but you know what, many of those people coming in are my friends, they know what they are doing, they will hit the ground running, they have plenty of experience and a lot of smarts. they will be just fine and as you can see today, they got to work quickly. today, they got to work quickly-— today, they got to work cuickl . ., ~ , . around the world, leaders have been sending their messages of congratulations. there's also been celebrations in ireland and india, as paul hawkins reports. i. i, joseph f robinette junior, do i, joseph f robinettejunior,

do swear... the momentjoe biden became president of the united states. a moment of pride back in ireland. this is ballina, the home ofjoe biden�*s great great great grandfather edward lewis who emigrated to the us in 1850, his descendents watching one of their own become leader of the free world. it their own become leader of the free world-— free world. it seems crazy, 'ust free world. it seems crazy, just waiting _ free world. it seems crazy, just waiting to _ free world. it seems crazy, just waiting to see - free world. it seems crazy, just waiting to see the - free world. it seems crazy, i just waiting to see the results in november and now he has actually become the president, so hopefully he will get to the white house soon.— so hopefully he will get to the white house soon. there were similar celebrations _ white house soon. there were similar celebrations in - white house soon. there were similar celebrations in india. i similar celebrations in india. this village the home of vice president's kamala harris's maternal grandfather. translation: very happy right now she becomes vice president of the united states of america. it brings hope to us we can achieve whatever we want, being a woman. she is a role model for villagers and girls here.

role model for villagers and girls here-— role model for villagers and girls here. the indian prime minister also _ girls here. the indian prime minister also tweeted - girls here. the indian prime minister also tweeted his i minister also tweeted his congratulations, calling it an historic occasion. around europe, the change of american leadership was also headline news. with eu leaders broadly keen to rebuild their relationship with the us following the strained years of the trump administration. i very much and looking forward to seeing joe biden as president in the white house and have a friend there. but for the british _ and have a friend there. but for the british prime minister borisjohnson, who courted resident trump, some awkward questions. joe biden is now the president of the united states. he did once say you were a physical and emotional clone of donald trump. as he assumes office, do you think still, perhaps as theresa may does, you need to convince him otherwise?— you need to convince him otherwise? ., , , �*, otherwise? honestly it's the 'ob otherwise? honestly it's the “0b of otherwise? honestly it's the job of all — otherwise? honestly it's the job of all uk _ otherwise? honestly it's the job of all uk prime - otherwise? honestly it's the job of all uk prime minister| otherwise? honestly it's the i job of all uk prime minister is to have a very close president —— relationship, a close working relationship and a good relationship with the president of the united states. [30 relationship with the president of the united states.— of the united states. do you think is some _ of the united states. do you think is some senior- think is some senior politicians in the us seem to

think, that resident biden �*s woke? i think, that resident biden 's woke? �* think, that resident biden 's woke? ., ., woke? i can't comment on that. what i woke? i can't comment on that. what i know— woke? i can't comment on that. what i know is _ woke? i can't comment on that. what i know is that he - woke? i can't comment on that. what i know is that he is - woke? i can't comment on that. what i know is that he is a - what i know is that he is a fervent believer in the transatlantic alliance. but withjoe biden and outspoken critic of brexit, how special but relationship will still be remains to be seen. let's get the reaction from asia. the bbc�*s sharanjit leyl is in singapore for us. how is it looking from there? as you saw in the report there have been greeting sent through by many leaders around the world. here in asia we have heard the usual congratulatory messages from leaders, the likes ofjapan, south korea, pakistan, singapore and many others. but china has marked the transition of power by imposing sanctions on more than 20 members of the outgoing administration for what they say was violating china sovereignty including on the now former secretary of state

mike pompeo. the chinese foreign ministry are sanctioning some form 28 ministers in all. there is also the trump trade advisor and the national security advisor and the former senior adviser steve bannon. they and their family members will not be allowed to enter hong kong, mainland china or macau according to the foreign ministry. in fact, one wrote on twitter that he was proud to have prompted beijing's wrath and it was a great way to celebrate and inauguration day. we know president biden's new administration is expected to remain tough on china but recommit to international cooperation —— cooperation after the divisive america first approach. we heard from china through a foreign ministry spokeswoman hours before the inauguration and the message then was hopeful,

beijing stating that they would like president biden to look at china rationally and object of leak to repair what they called serious damage and bilateral ties caused other tom presidency. i ties caused other tom presidency-— ties caused other tom presidency. ties caused other tom residen . ., presidency. i should say that investors _ presidency. i should say that investors here _ presidency. i should say that investors here in _ presidency. i should say that investors here in asia - presidency. i should say that investors here in asia seem | presidency. i should say that i investors here in asia seem to be celebrating the transition of power as well. we saw global stocks climbing to all—time high, there is much optimism that the one point $9 trillion stimulus plan proposed by president biden's administration will lift the us economy out of a pandemic induced recession and all—star corporate earnings. we saw the s&p 500 on wall street posting its best reaction to a presidential inauguration since at least 1937. presidential inauguration since at least1937. hong presidential inauguration since at least 1937. hong kong's whole thing earlier it 30,000 points for the first time since may 2019 so we are watching these stocks and the investors reacting to this day.— these stocks and the investors reacting to this day. thank you very much _ reacting to this day. thank you very much for— reacting to this day. thank you

very much for that. _ reacting to this day. thank you very much for that. in - reacting to this day. thank you very much for that. in case - reacting to this day. thank you j very much for that. in case you justjoined us, a reminder of our headlines. in a day of pomp and pageantry joe biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the united states. kamala harris becomes vice—president — the first woman and woman of colour to hold that office. it wasn'tjust about the new presidentjoe biden. his vice president 56—year—old kamala harris has made history, as the first woman and woman of colour to hold the office. also making headlines the 22—year—old who may well have upstaged a list starsj—lo and lady gaga atjoe biden's inauguration. amanda gorman became the youngest poet ever to perform at a presidential inauguration in front of a watching global audience. here again are amanda's rousing final verses in her self—penned work — the hill we climb.

but one thing is certain: if we merge mercy with might and might with right, then love becomes our legacy, and change our children's birthright. so let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left. with every breath from our bronze—pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. we will rise from the gold—limmed hills of the west. we will rise from the windswept north—east, where our forefathers first realised revolution. we will rise from the lake—rimmed cities of the midwestern states. we will rise from the sun—baked south. we will rebuild, reconcile, and recover in every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country, our people diverse, and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful. when day comes, we step out of the shade aflame, and unafraid, the new dawn blooms as we free it. for there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're

brave enough to be it. amanda gorman, 22. and she says she has a speech impediment though you would hardly hear it. she says she will run it for president in 2036 and, of course, her books are now number one and number we can speak to sonia gipson rankin, who's an assistant professor at the university of new mexico's school of law who also serves on many committees to raise awareness of issues such as racial and gender equality. good to talk to you. can you sum up your feelings today? what an amazing day in the united states. vice president kamala harris has broken a nearly 200 year barrier of women being at the very highest offices in the united states. she is not only the nation's

first female vice president but also the nation's first black american vice president and the first person of south asian descent to become vice president. there has been nothing like this before and we cannot wait to see what happens next. �* .,. cannot wait to see what happens next. �* .. ., next. and the face of the new administration _ next. and the face of the new administration looking - administration looking different in many ways but we just saw kamala harris they are, the first black vice president swearing in three new democratic senators. one black, one jewish, democratic senators. one black, onejewish, one hispanic. that one jewish, one hispanic. that sounds like — one jewish, one hispanic. that sounds like america _ one jewish, one hispanic. that sounds like america to - onejewish, one hispanic. t'isgt sounds like america to me. this is what is very exciting and exactly what was outlined and you could pick that up from the language of amanda gorman's fantastic home where she really remarked on who we are and who we can be as a nation. so that will really stand out to people. i am reflecting on the fact that it was exactly 100 years since women got the right

to vote in the united states and it is only 56 years after the voting rights act of 1965 when black women could have equal access to that right to vote. today is an auspicious day and it will be remembered for quite some time. find day and it will be remembered for quite some time.— for quite some time. and at almost every _ for quite some time. and at almost every inauguration l for quite some time. and at i almost every inauguration we hear messages of hope and mizzen, perhaps —— not so much at the inauguration of president trump. fox news hosts are already complaining that all they are hearing our slogans and bumper stickers. people will take a lot of convincing. it is such a difficult time.- convincing. it is such a difficult time. . , ., ., difficult time. that is a great oint. i difficult time. that is a great point. i believe _ difficult time. that is a great point. i believe that - difficult time. that is a great l point. i believe that president biden and his team worked hard to show the united states in the inauguration today, from sign language at the pledge of allegiance toj—lo sign language at the pledge of allegiance to j—lo speaking sign language at the pledge of allegiance toj—lo speaking in spanish. it was a sign of who we are as a nation. all the way

to garth brooks, comfortable in his cowboy hat and jeans showing that this is who we are and we can be united with a shared purpose.— shared purpose. talking of i unity, i know you do not have to make the decision, but do you think the impeachment trial should go ahead, will go ahead? almost nothing could be more divisive, could it? i almost nothing could be more divisive, could it?— divisive, could it? i am a la er divisive, could it? i am a lawyer and _ divisive, could it? i am a lawyer and i— divisive, could it? i am a lawyer and i believe i divisive, could it? i am a lawyer and i believe we i divisive, could it? i am a i lawyer and i believe we need to follow process just so we can show that we are continuing to be a nation of laws and we will always look at the evidence and make decisions. it is appropriate for the process to go forward in the united states senate and the determinations can be made from there. do you have concerns _ can be made from there. do you have concerns about _ can be made from there. do you have concerns about the - have concerns about the tensions within the party? there are many people who voted for kamala harris and joe biden, natural centrists, both of them, but people from much further left you would like more radical policy, they wanted to see president trump go and they thought they were the people to do it but now they will be pressure on those two to do things that they do

not really will be pressure from every direction. that is the final leadership and government, coming and working towards compromise. what is important is that we have two leaders in the white house who have experience in the senate, who have worked on compromises and worked across the aisle to get things accomplished. they will put those skills to the test now that they are working in the executive branch.- the executive branch. very . reat the executive branch. very great to — the executive branch. very great to talk _ the executive branch. very great to talk to _ the executive branch. very great to talk to you, i the executive branch. very great to talk to you, thank| the executive branch. very i great to talk to you, thank you very much indeed. thank you for being with us. there is more for you at any time, nationaland time, national and international news time, nationaland international news on the bbc website and on our twitter feeds. before we go, look at some of the moments, the key moments of the day whenjoe biden began the 46 president of the united states. #0h # oh say can you see by the

dawns early light # what so proudly we hailed... # at the twilight�*s last gleaming # whose broad stripes and right stars through the peril... i do solemnly swear. # oh the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming # the will ofthe gallantly streaming # the will of the people _ gallantly streaming # the will of the people has _ gallantly streaming # the will of the people has been i gallantly streaming # the will of the people has been heard | of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. at this- and the will of the people has been heeded. at this hour, my friends, democracy _ been heeded. at this hour, my friends, democracy has i friends, democracy has prevailed. # and the home of

the brave. hello, and we yet have more severe weather in our forecast for thursday. we start the day still with the met office amber warning in force for heavy rain across northern england. that will lapse through the morning but, obviously, the flooding situation lags somewhat behind the falling rain, so i don't anticipate the flood warnings going up once again across england. and then for scotland, we have an amber warning for the risk of disruption across the borders where heavy snow is set to fall accompanied by strong winds. the reason for all of these problems is storm christoph, this deep area of low pressure. it's now pulling off into the north sea but behind it, we've dragged down some cold air all the way south from the arctic right the way across the uk, and that gives us a cold start to thursday. it means ice is possible, well, just about anywhere — a lot of surface water lying around aside from where we see showers falling first thing. but wintry weather for scotland

the biggest issue through the course of the day. the rain, improving across northern england. still some showers around here, though. still some wintry, even as far south as the southern pennines, perhaps the odd one getting into the peaks. to the far south of the uk, perhaps some rain grazing the south coast. much of england and wales seeing a dry and sunny day but feeling chillier certainly. northern ireland largely fine. scotland keeps on packing in those wintry showers even overnight thursday into friday as christoph pulls off towards scandinavia. there will be some, as well, for northern ireland, a few more for northern england but scotland with the greatest risk of piling up some more snowfall. a widespread frost, though, takes us into friday. so, again with that surface water sitting around across many parts of the uk, could be icejust about anywhere as the day gets under way. friday, quite a bit of sunshine for england and wales. a few showers of rain running into the south. some more wintry showers though for northern england grazing the north of northern ireland, and across scotland. but friday, in contrast to the last few days, a much quieter day. as for the weekend, low pressure still to the north—west. we feed in some weather systems around it through the course of the weekend. don't put too much stake on the exact detail of where these are pushing through but you can see white there.

those weather systems are set to interact with the very cold air. hard to put the detail on them because they are quite small, but the upshot is we will all be sitting in the colder air this weekend. and if those features do run in where you are, you could see some snow.

this is bbc news — the headlines: joe biden's been sworn in as the 46th us president, ending one of the most dramatic political transitions in american history. he said �*democracy had prevailed' after taking the oath of office from chiefjusticejohn roberts. �*my whole soul is in putting america back together again' he added. kamala harris has been sworn in as vice president. she becomes the first woman, and the first black and asian—american person, to serve in the role — a heartbeat from the presidency. she was inaugurated by the us supreme courtjustice sonia sotomayor — the court's first latina member. donald trump, who never formally conceded the presidency to mr biden, snubbed the inauguration ceremony in a departure from longstanding precedent. instead, he left washington to travel to his home in florida. president biden said he did leave a generous personal letter to his successor.