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 in washington, dc, for the inauguration of presidentjoe biden. ladies and gentlemen, the president—elect of the united states, joseph robinette biden jr and doctorjill biden. cheering and applause. music.

please raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, joseph robinette bidenjr, do solemnly swear. two i, joseph robinette bidenjr, do solemnly swear. luna that i will faithfully execute. but i will faithfully execute. but i will faithfully execute. but i will faithfully execute. ., ' . execute. but i will faithfully execute. ., execute. the office of president _ execute. the office of president of - execute. the office of president of the - execute. the office of. president of the united execute. the office of - president of the united states. and will— president of the united states. and will to the best of my ability, _ and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend, — ability, preserve, protect and defend, preserve, protect and defend — defend, preserve, protect and defend. the constitution of the united — defend. the constitution of the united states, so help me god. so united states, so help me god. 50 help— united states, so help me god. so help me god. congratulations, mr president. music.

chiefjustice roberts, chief justice roberts, vice chiefjustice roberts, vice president harris... two cheering and applause. speaker nancy pelosi, chuck schumer, vice president p, my distinguished guests, my fellow americans, this is america's day, this is democracy�*s day. the day of history and hope, a renewal and resolve, through a crucible for the ages, america's been tested and new and america has risen to the challenge. today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, the cause of democracy. the people, the will

of the people, has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. we've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile, and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. cheering and applause. 50 democracy has prevailed. cheering and applause. so now, on this hallowed _ cheering and applause. so now, on this hallowed ground _ cheering and applause. so now, on this hallowed ground where - on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the capital's very foundation, we come together as one nation, under god, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries. as we look ahead at our new —— uniquely american way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on a nation we know we can be and we must be. i thank my predecessors of both parties

for their presence here today. i thank them from the bottom of my heart, and i know... cheering and applause. find my heart, and i know... cheering and applause. and i know the resilience _ cheering and applause. and i know the resilience of _ cheering and applause. and i know the resilience of our - know the resilience of our constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation. as does president carter who i spoke with last night who cannot be with us today, but who we salute for his lifetime and service. s cheering and applause. i'vejust taken and service. s cheering and applause. i've just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. the oath first sworn by george washington. the american story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, ennui, the people, who seek a more perfect union. ——

on we, the people. this is a good nation, we are good people. and through the times, through storm and strife, peace and war, we have come so far, we still have far to go. we'll press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to heal, much to build and much to heal, much to build and much to gain. few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time nation's history have been more challenged orfound a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. once in a century virus that silently stalks the country has taken as many lives in one year is america lost in all of world war ii. millions ofjobs have been lost, hundreds of

thousands of businesses closed. a cry for racialjustice some 400 years in the making moves us. the dream ofjustice for all will be deferred no longer. cheering and applause. fix, cw; cheering and applause. a cry for survival_ cheering and applause. a cry for survival comes _ cheering and applause. a cry for survival comes from - cheering and applause. a cry for survival comes from the - for survival comes from the planet itself. a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear and now the rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism, that we must confront and we will defeat.— will defeat. cheering and applause- _ will defeat. cheering and applause. to _ will defeat. cheering and applause. to overcome . will defeat. cheering and - applause. to overcome these challenges. — applause. to overcome these challenges, to _ applause. to overcome these challenges, to restore - applause. to overcome these challenges, to restore the - applause. to overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of america, requires so much more than words, it requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity. unity. in anotherjanuary, on new year's

day in 1863, abraham lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation. when he put pen to paper, the president said, and i quote, "if my name ever goes down in history, it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it". my whole soul is in it. 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 tojoin uniting our nation, and i ask every american to join me in this cause. every american to 'oin me in this causeh this cause. cheering and applause- _ -- applause. uniting to face the photos — -- applause. uniting to face the photos that _ -- applause. uniting to face the photos that we _ -- applause. uniting to face the photos that we face, - -- applause. uniting to face | the photos that we face, anger, resentment and history is —— hatred, extremism, lawlessness, disease, joblessness, hopelessness. with unity, we can do great things, important

things. we can write roles, we can put people in good jobs, teach our children in safe schools —— right wrongs. we can overcome the deadly virus. we can rebuild the middle class and make healthcare affordable for all. we can make america once again the leading force for good in the world. i know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. i know the forces that divide is a deep and they are real. but i also know they are real. but i also know they are not new. our history has been a constant struggle between the american ideal that we are all created equal, and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonisation, have long torn us

apart. the battle is perennial. and victory is never assured. through civil war the great depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and set acts, our better angels have always prevailed —— setbacks. enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward, and we can do that now. history, faith and reason show the way, the way of unity. we can see each other not as adverse areas but as neighbours. we can treat each other with dignity and respect. we canjoin other with dignity and respect. we can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature, for without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. no progress, only exhausting

outrage. no nation, only a state of chaos. this is our historic moment of creases and challenge —— crisis. and unity is the path forward. and we must meet this moment as the united states of america. if we do that, i guarantee you we will not fail to stop we have never, ever, ever, everfailed in america. when we've acted together. and so today, at this time in this place, let's start afresh, all of us. let's begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another. politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path, every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. and we

must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. my manufactured. applause. my fellow americans, _ manufactured. applause. my fellow americans, we - manufactured. applause. my fellow americans, we have . manufactured. applause. my fellow americans, we have to| manufactured. applause. my. fellow americans, we have to be different to this. america has to be better than this. and i believe america is so much better than this, just look around. here we stand in the shadow of the capital dome. as was talked about earlier, completed in the civil war when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. though we endured. we prevailed. here we endured. we prevailed. here we stand, looking out at the great mall where doctor king spoke of his dream. here we stand where 108 spoke of his dream. here we stand where108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block grave women marching for the right to vote —— brave women. and today,

we mark this time when the first woman in american history elected into national office, vice president kamala harris. don't tell me things can't change! don't tell me things can't chance! �* �* ,, don't tell me things can't change!_ here don't tell me things can't . change!_ here we don't tell me things can't - change!_ here we stand change! applause. here we stand across from _ change! applause. here we stand across from the _ change! applause. here we stand across from the cemetery where i across from the cemetery where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace, and here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. it did not happen, it will never happen. not today, not tomorrow, not ever! not ever! cheering and applause. to all those who supported _ cheering and applause. to all those who supported our - those who supported our campaign, and humbled by the

faith you placed in us. to all those who did not support us, let me say this, hear me out as we move forward. take a measure of me and my heart, and if you still disagree, so be it. that's democracy. that's america. the right to dissent peaceably, within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's strength. yet hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion, and i pledge this to you, i will be a president for all americans, all americans. cheering and applause. -- applause. cheering and applause. -- appl“se-— cheering and applause. -- applause. ~ , ., , applause. and i promise you i will fi . ht applause. and i promise you i will fight as _ applause. and i promise you i will fight as hard _ applause. and i promise you i will fight as hard for— applause. and i promise you i will fight as hard for those - will fight as hard for those who did not support me as to those who did.— who did not support me as to . those who did._ many those who did. applause. many centuries ago. — those who did. applause. many centuries ago, saint _ those who did. applause. many centuries ago, saint augusta, i centuries ago, saint augusta, the saint of my church, wrote

that the people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. defined by the common objects of their loved. what are the common objects that we as americans love? that define us as americans? i think we know. opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honour, and yes, the truth. recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. there is truth, and their allies. lies told for power and for profit —— and there are lies. each of us has a responsibility as citizens, americans, we have a pledge to honour our constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth, defeat the lies.

look, i understand that many of my fellow americans view the future with fear and trepidation. i understand they worry about theirjobs. trepidation. i understand they worry about their jobs. i understand they stare at the ceiling at night, wondering, can i keep my healthcare, can i pay my mortgage? thinking about theirfamilies, about pay my mortgage? thinking about their families, about what comes next. i promise you, i get it. but the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions. distrusting those who do not look like you. or worship the way you do. or don't get their news from the same source as you do. 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, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we are willing to stand in the other person's shoes, as my mother would say, just for a moment, stand in their issues. because, here's their issues. because, here's the thing about life, there is no accounting for what fate will deal you. no accounting for what fate will dealyou. some no accounting for what fate will deal you. some days, when you need a hand, there are other days, when we are called to lend a hand. that's how it has to be, that's what we do for one another. and if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready forthe stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future, and we can still disagree. my fellow americans, in the work ahead of us, we're going to need each

other. we need all our strength and to persevere through this dark winter. we are entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus, we must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation. and i promise you this — as the bible says, we may endure for a night, butjoy cometh in the morning, we will get through this together, together! look, folks, all my colleagues i'm serving within the house and senate up here, we all understand the world is watching. watching all of us today. so here is my message to those beyond our borders, america has been tested, and we have come out stronger for you. we will repair our alliances

and engage with the world once again. not to me yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges. and we will lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. we will be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security. look, we all know we went through so much in this nation. and my first act as president, i would like to ask you tojoin me in a moment of silent prayer for all those that we lost in this past year to the pandemic. those 400,000 fellow americans, mothers, dads, husbands, wives, sons and daughters, friends and neighbours and co—workers. we

honour them. and become the nation we know we can and should be, so i am asking, let's say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives and those who lost their lives and those we left behind. amen. folks, this is a time of testing. we face an attack on democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing in equity, the sting of stiff thermic racism, a claimant in crisis —— systemic racism, climate process, america's role in the world. anyone of these would be enough to challenge us in a number of ways, but we face them all at once, we face one of the greatest responsibilities we have ever had. now we're going to be

tested. are we going to step up to all of this? it's time for boldness, there so much to do. but this is certain, i promise you. we will be judged, but this is certain, i promise you. we will bejudged, you and i, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era, will be raised to the occasion? will be master this rare and difficult hours? will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? believe we must, i'm sure you do as well, i believe we will copy and when we do, we will write the next great chapter in the history of the united states of america, the american story, a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. it's called american anthem. there is one verse that stands

out, at least for me, it goes like this "the works and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day, what shall be our legacy, what will our children say? let me know in my heart when my days are through, america, america, i gave my best to you." let's add, let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. if we do this, then, when our days are through, our children and our children's children will say to us, they gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land. my fellow americans, i closed today where i began, with this sacred oath, before god and all of you, i give you my word, i will always level with you. i will defend the constitution. i will defend

our democracy. i will defend america. and i will give all, all of you, to keep everything i do in your service, thinking not of power, but of possibilities, not personal, but the public good, and together, we shall write an american story of hope, not fear, of unity, no division, of light, not darkness. a story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. may this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tales ages yet to come that we answered the call of history, we met the moment, democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch, both arrive! that america's secured liberty at home and stood once again to the beach in —— a big

into the that is what we owe our forebears, into the that is what we owe ourforebears, one another and our forebears, one another and a ourforebears, one another and a generation to follow. so, with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time, sustained by faith, driven by conviction, devoted to one another and the country we love, with all our hearts, a god bless america and may god protect our troops. thank you, america. cheering and applause fanfare

music bbc theme 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. 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 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 with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm samantha simmonds. no time to waste — president biden gets down to work — just hours after being sworn into office. he signs a series of executive orders aimed at reversing key policies of his predecessor, donald trump. the new administration will have control of both houses of congress as democrats take charge houses of congress as democrats take charge of washington. and — at least three people are killed after an explosion causes a building to partially collapse in madrid. hello and welcome.