welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. my name's mike embley. our top stories: mr president. cheering and applause- — a new day for america — joe biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the united states. we've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile, and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. 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. the president wrote a very generous letter. talk about it until i talk to him, but it was generous. the democrats take control of the senate — swearing in new members — giving president biden a narrow majority in both chambers of congress. the inauguration ofjoe biden as the 46th president of the united states has taken place in remarkably different scenes to those witnessed previously. it took place without the public and amid intense security after the storming of the capitol. mr biden called for unity, and an end to the nation's �*uncivil war�*. it ended unconventionally too, with a prime time television show and a grand firework display to finish. our north america editorjon sopel looks 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 that was ending. 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as it always does on inauguration day, but look towards the washington monument and the normal forest of people has been replaced by a garden of flags.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 staging 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 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. 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 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 the bbc�*s david willis in los angeles.

a very different feel from the white house press secretary's first press conference. a very different feel from the new administration for w have seen administration for w have seen a few of these. how does it all look to you?— look to you? what a contrast from john spicer -- - from john spicer —— sean spicer, coming out and insisting on donald trump's first full day in office that the inauguration crowd had been the inauguration crowd had been the biggest ever, even though in fact it had not. this was a totally different tone set by jen psaki who is no stranger of course to addressing the american media. she has been in the state department under barack obama, she has held a variety of positions as far as addressing the press is concerned. as you say, she vowed to be truthful and she was a little circumlocution was, it is fair to say, on certain topics. —— circumlocution was. whetherjoe

biden should press ahead with the impeachment trial. but she said they will be a press briefing every day and health briefings for the coronavirus pandemic and that is quite a change. pandemic and that is quite a chance. , , , ., , change. every president that is incomin: change. every president that is incoming talks _ change. every president that is incoming talks about _ change. every president that is incoming talks about hope, - incoming talks about hope, unity and not so much in trump's inaugural address. and i know there are millions that think thatjoe biden is not a legitimate president and that the election was possibly stolen. bringing the country together now is just a challenge on top of a whole load of other challenges. it really is and joe biden has spoken of the need for unity today on his inaugural address and also in that event that has just been under way, it finished a short while ago, celebrating america event. he also made reference to the need for unity in this country, a

country that's divided over a variety of issues, not least of course the coronavirus crisis, the failing equality —— economy, racial inequity and so on. it is going to be a herculean task forjoe biden but he vowed of course all along to be a president for all of america, notjust represent those who voted for him certainly there has been an up eat spirit today. we have seen a lot of celebrities coming out to hail the inauguration of mr biden and kamala harris. among them, of course, this evening, bruce springsteen, john legend and jon bonjovi, amongst and jon bon jovi, amongst others. and jon bonjovi, amongst others. a new chapter is being written in american history and where it will lead us is anybody�*s death —— gas. jae anybody's death -- gas. joe biden has — anybody's death —— gas. joe biden has made early moves on it. —— anybody's guess. some governors could resist the

mandate on masks, couldn't they? mandate on masks, couldn't the ? , �* �* they? they could. but joe biden has made clear— they? they could. but joe biden has made clear he _ they? they could. but joe biden has made clear he intends - they? they could. but joe biden has made clear he intends to i has made clear he intends to reach out to them, if necessary in person, to encourage those more recalcitrant governors and state officials to press members of the population to implement this mask wearing advice and also to socially distance. ron klain who is the white house chief of staff warned today that the coronavirus death toll which is currently more than 400 thousand in this country, would reach half a million by the end of next month and tackling the coronavirus and the resulted from it, is the number one preoccupation of this incoming administration. jen psaki said at that white house press briefing today that the coronavirus pandemic is the thing thatjoe biden thinks

about when he wakes up in the morning and the last and he thinks about as well when he goes to sleep at night. david, thank you _ goes to sleep at night. david, thank you very _ goes to sleep at night. david, thank you very much - goes to sleep at night. david, thank you very much indeed l goes to sleep at night. david, i thank you very much indeed for that. we can now speak to max kutner who's a us political analyst and commentator. good to talk to you again. how does all of this field to you and what do you expect in the next few days. figs and what do you expect in the next few days.— next few days. as your colleague _ next few days. as your colleague said, - next few days. as your colleague said, these l next few days. as your i colleague said, these first press conferences and first appearances really set the tone for what the next four years are going to be like. what we heard from jen psaki, the press secretary today, is that this is going to be an administration about policy. she said here are the first 15 executive orders that biden is doing and this is how he spent his work day. what we did not hear is crowd size, hirings and firings, palace intrigue and drama. so this is going to be about policy, this is not going to be a reality show administration. i think some political reporter is like me i kind of breathing a sigh of relief tonight to not have to

get president trump's twitter alerts constantly anymore, in part because he is no longer on twitter. i think this gave us a look at what this it ministration is going to be like. i spoke to don beyer, the white house communications director under bill clinton and he shared with me an e—mail she —— he sentjen psaki today, thanking herfor redeeming —— he sentjen psaki today, thanking her for redeeming the country, i think was his words. that was the purpose of the briefing today. it was seen as a reintroduction of the us, of this administration, to the world. ~ . , ~ world. max, president biden said democracy _ world. max, president biden said democracy has - world. max, president biden. said democracy has prevailed. that had a lot to do with the fact they were 25,000 national guardsmen on the streets of washington to prevent an occurrence of —— a re— occurrence of the events a couple of weeks ago. they will be many on the side of the radical left who said president trump never tried to appeal to those who voted democrat, why notjust press on with what you feel needs doing? don't worry

about unifying the country? whatever that means. we about unifying the country? whatever that means. we do have to remember— whatever that means. we do have to remember that _ whatever that means. we do have to remember that 75 _ whatever that means. we do have to remember that 75 million - to remember that 75 million people voted for president trump and sure, he probably gained a couple of the track is given the events of few weeks ago, but he still has a lot of supporters out there and they are, as you were saying, going to be sceptical. i don't know how much garth looks's performance today, maybe it got some people over to the biden side, maybe not. —— garth brooks' performance. they are not going to say —— they have to say notjust how they will bring people in, how he will be a president for all people. we saw some of the things that mitch mcconnell said and other republicans said. we heard the new press secretary speaking about that bipartisanship. so you know, biden is going to have to do show it with his actions, notjust his words. trump still has a lot of

supporters out there. but at the end of the day, they are going to have to get used to it. and at the same time, you mentioned the radical left. they are also going to be wanting biden to not move too far to the centre or not too far to the centre or not too far to the right. they are going to be wanting people on the left and biden�*s going to have to appease them, too. max kutner, thank you. stay with us on bbc news — still to come: despite please for unity — america is still divided. we visit texas — and meet people who don't welcome the new president. 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: 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. the final part of the inauguration day has been a event billed as celebrating america. during that event and speaking at the lincoln memorial during a televised concert to celebrate the inauguration, the new vice president has said it is because of the sheer determination of the american people that the united states is constantly evolving. i see it in the parents and the scientists and the innovators and educators and everyone, everywhere, he was building a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. theirfamilies and their communities. this, too, is american aspiration. this is what presidentjoe biden has called upon us to summon now. the courage to see beyond crisis, to do what is hard, to

do what is good, to unite, to believe in ourselves, believe in our country, believe in what we can do together. the us vice president, of course. we can now speak to lauren leader who's ceo of all in together, a non—partisan women's civic organisation. it is good to talk to you. thanks for your time. it is good to talk to you. thanks foryourtime. quite it is good to talk to you. thanks for your time. quite a day for messaging and actual change? day for messaging and actual chance? ., ~ ., change? indeed. you know, kamala harris, _ change? indeed. you know, kamala harris, now- change? indeed. you know, kamala harris, now vice - kamala harris, now vice president, stands on the shoulders of millions that came before her that court and died for the rights of all americans to fulfil the full hopes of the founders for the union of the people, by the people, and for the people. 0bviously president biden is historic as the 46th president, but really, in so many days, this day belongs to

her as much as it belongs to him, and girls everywhere, who see a model in her. find him, and girls everywhere, who see a model in her.— see a model in her. and laura, we also saw — see a model in her. and laura, we also saw the _ see a model in her. and laura, we also saw the vice _ see a model in her. and laura, we also saw the vice president| we also saw the vice president swearing in three new democratic senators, very diverse faces, one black, one jewish and hispanic, and a 22—year—old recent harvard graduate with that problem at the inauguration.— graduate with that problem at the inauguration. impossible to for: et. the inauguration. impossible to forget. gorman _ the inauguration. impossible to forget. gorman was _ the inauguration. impossible to forget. gorman was one - the inauguration. impossible to forget. gorman was one of- the inauguration. impossible to forget. gorman was one of the | forget. gorman was one of the true highlights of the inauguration. an extraordinary commentary on her times and the grace and grit of her performance was profoundly moving. performance was profoundly movinu. ,, , performance was profoundly movin., ,, , performance was profoundly movinu. ,, , , moving. she says she is running for president — moving. she says she is running for president in _ moving. she says she is running for president in 2036? - moving. she says she is running for president in 2036? think - for president in 2036? think there are — for president in 2036? think there are a _ for president in 2036? think there are a lot _ for president in 2036? think there are a lot of— for president in 2036? think there are a lot of young - for president in 2036? think i there are a lot of young women who are now seeing the full possibility of running for president. hillary clinton took the day is today behind vice

president —— dias, and the past she laid for them, and one of the members of congress was wearing a necklace that belonged to shirley chisholm. when she ran for president. there are so many people before us that made this moment possible, and yet it feels profound and extraordinary and world changing. find profound and extraordinary and world changing.— world changing. and if the olls world changing. and if the polls are _ world changing. and if the polls are to _ world changing. and if the polls are to be _ world changing. and if the polls are to be believed, l world changing. and if the i polls are to be believed, the rise of more radical politics, more diverse faces, black lives matter in particular, seems to be one of the things that's get a lot of people into voting for mr trump, a lot of people into voting for mrtrump, more people a lot of people into voting for mr trump, more people voted for him last year than in 2016 study should kamala harris try to bridge the gap or press ahead with what they think is right, orwhat ahead with what they think is right, or what the more radical wing of the party thinks is right? wing of the party thinks is riuht? , ., , wing of the party thinks is riuht? , . , ., right? they are trying to unite the country — right? they are trying to unite the country stopping - right? they are trying to unite the country stopping there - right? they are trying to unite the country stopping there is l right? they are trying to unite | the country stopping there is a line between white supremacists and nihilists who want to essentially destroy the foundations of our nation. they

are not people you can bring together, they need to be dealt with and there needs to be serious consequences for those who were behind the uprising against our nation's capitol building. but there are lots of americans in between and it is an enormous task to bring the country together. biden is going to try, yes, 75 million people voted for donald trump, more americans voted for this election than any election in history. he had a resolute and sound majority that anyone with, both in the electoral couege with, both in the electoral college and the popular vote. —— that the one with. he will continue to be a centrist, as he has always been. but there is a really clear line between uniting people who have good intentions and maybe differing ideologies, and those who espouse hate, destruction and the elimination of everything that america stands for stopping those people are not people we are bringing together. 81 people we are bringing together-— people we are bringing touether. j~' ., , .,, together. 81 million people voted for —

together. 81 million people voted forjoe _ together. 81 million people voted forjoe, _ together. 81 million people voted forjoe, thank - together. 81 million people voted forjoe, thank you i together. 81 million people i voted forjoe, thank you very much. —— lauren leader, thank you very much. much. -- lauren leader, thank you very much-— cities across the country were on high alert for attacks by americans on their own institutions. aleem maqbool, has travelled to texas to examine and to meet some of those for whom the new president's message of united means very little. the inauguration he is mark bone upturned flag. so convinced is eric that donald trump somehow had the election stolen from him. i trump somehow had the election stolen from him.— stolen from him. i appreciate ou are stolen from him. i appreciate you are very _ stolen from him. i appreciate you are very much. _ stolen from him. i appreciate you are very much. copy - stolen from him. i appreciate| you are very much. copy that. eric has been so angry he has been reading our leading his right wing militia onto the streets. ~ ., _, ., streets. we are coming to the caital streets. we are coming to the capital today _ streets. we are coming to the capital today in _ streets. we are coming to the capital today in austin - streets. we are coming to the capital today in austin for - capital today in austin for many reasons. none of them good. many reasons. none of them aood. �* ., . ~ many reasons. none of them ood. i, . ~' ., , many reasons. none of them ood. . , . many reasons. none of them nood. . ~' . , . ., good. back at his trailer home, he tells me _ good. back at his trailer home, he tells me he _ good. back at his trailer home, he tells me he will— good. back at his trailer home, he tells me he will never- he tells me he will never accept he tells me he will never accethoe biden as president

and that for him, the inauguration is a signal his country is dying before his very eyes. the stars and stripes outside is upside down? 0utside? stripes outside is upside down? outside? in distress, yes, sir, it is. america is deeply in distress and we are on the moment of a brink of complete division. ~ . ., ., moment of a brink of complete division. ~ . ~ division. which looks like what? division? - division. which looks like what? division? what - division. which looks like what? division? what it. division. which looks like - what? division? what it looks like it states _ what? division? what it looks like it states like _ what? division? what it looks like it states like texas - like it states like texas actually having the legal right to live the union, we will do that. ., , to live the union, we will do that. . , . . to live the union, we will do that. . , ., . , that. that is fanciful, but it is an indication _ that. that is fanciful, but it is an indication of - that. that is fanciful, but it is an indication of the - is an indication of the strength of feeling there is. the assault on the us capitol has illustrated too many americans the extent to which the right is prepared to go to lodge its protest. it is continuing to do so at state capitals across the country stopping the events of last year have shown the left in america is also prepared to disrupt and make its presence felt. last summer they were roused into action, not by

misinformation from the president, but the killing of george floyd. protest leaderj believes he will be arrested many more times fighting white supremacy in america, especially now as he sees it, the right has been emboldened. there is going to be, you know, chaos in some way, there is going to be uprisings from therein, there will continue to be uprisings from our and, of us wanting to see change and justice prevail. —— our end. so i think you'll see that intensify. i don't think in any way, shape orform, biden winning — i do not see there to be peace from this point. 0thers be peace from this point. others on the left say the issues of inequality and poverty are ones that will keep them fighting, to. eric and his militia mate tim wanted to show off their preparedness for the battles they are expecting. tee battles they are expecting. yee haw! yeah. _

battles they are expecting. yee haw! yeah, we _ battles they are expecting. yee haw! yeah, we got _ battles they are expecting. yee haw! yeah, we got a _ battles they are expecting. yee haw! yeah, we got a problem. | battles they are expecting. yee l haw! yeah, we got a problem. a bit of a game. — haw! yeah, we got a problem. a bit of a game, one _ haw! yeah, we got a problem. a bit of a game, one that - haw! yeah, we got a problem. a bit of a game, one that ended i bit of a game, one that ended up up starting a fire that quickly spread. aleem maqbool for us in texas there. thank you for watching. hello, 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. 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. 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.

now on bbc news, we look back at the events