this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughan jones. our top stories: the former president has been acquitted of inciting a mob to attack the us capitol. democrats failed to get the two thirds majority they needed. two—thirds not having found guilty. the respondent donald john trump, former president of the united states is not realty as charged. the charge related to the storming of the capitol in january. the senate's republican leader mitch mcconnell voted to acquit, but pulled no punches in condemning mr trump. president trump is practically and morally responsible for

provoking the events of the day. in a statement, donald trump said the democrats had been given "a free pass to transform justice into a tool of political vengeance." hello and welcome to bbc news. we started course in the united states. the former us president donald trump has been acquitted in his second impeachment trial after last month's storming of the capitol building. the senate vote fell short of the two—thirds majority needed to convict him on the single charge of incitement of insurrection. seven republican senators voted with their democratic colleagues — ten short of what was needed for a conviction. our north america editor jon sopel has the latest. after four days of acrimonious

hearings, the second impeachment trial of donald trump came to a close and a vote to convict or acquit. the senate and _ vote to convict or acquit. the senate and judges _ senate and judges that the respondent donaldj trump, former president of the united states, is not guilty as charged in the article of impeachment.— charged in the article of imeachment. ,, , , , impeachment. seven republicans did find him _ impeachment. seven republicans did find him guilty, _ impeachment. seven republicans did find him guilty, but _ impeachment. seven republicans did find him guilty, but not - did find him guilty, but not enough to convict. the leader of the republicans in the senate voted to acquit, but then launched a lacerating attack on donald trump and his behaviour. attack on donald trump and his behaviour-— attack on donald trump and his behaviour. there's no question, none, behaviour. there's no question, none. that _ behaviour. there's no question, none, that president _ behaviour. there's no question, none, that president trump - behaviour. there's no question, none, that president trump is l none, that president trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. no question about it. the people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president.— and instructions of their president. the events of january _ president. the events of january the _ president. the events of january the sixth, - president. the events of january the sixth, when | president. the events of. january the sixth, when the drum supporting mob most on

congress and ran amok, after the former president told them too much there, will never be forgotten. closing arguments in this trial set out dramatically different versions of events. the cold, hard truth is that what happened on 6january can happen again. this what happened on 6 january can happen again. this impeachment has been a _ happen again. this impeachment has been a complete _ happen again. this impeachment has been a complete charade - has been a complete charade from — has been a complete charade from beginning to end. the entire — from beginning to end. the entire spectacle has been nothing but the unhinged pursuit— nothing but the unhinged pursuit of a long—standing political vendetta against mr trump — political vendetta against mr trump by the opposition party. senators, _ trump by the opposition party. senators, please be seated. earlier, _ senators, please be seated. earlier, there _ senators, please be seated. earlier, there was _ senators, please be seated. earlier, there was a - senators, please be seated. earlier, there was a mightyl kerfuffle over whether democrats would call witnesses, following a new disclosure about comments allegedly made by the president while the riot was going on. in by the president while the riot was going on— by the president while the riot was going on. in the middle of the insurrection, _ was going on. in the middle of the insurrection, when - was going on. in the middle of the insurrection, when housel the insurrection, when house minority leader kevin mccarthy golby president to beg for help, president trump responded" well, kevin, i guess

these people are more upset about the election than you are." , . , �* are." this wasn't in the script- _ are." this wasn't in the script- at _ are." this wasn't in the script. at times, - are." this wasn't in the script. at times, the i are." this wasn't in the - script. at times, the exchanges seem to belong to the school playground rather than the senate floor.— senate floor. that's civil process- _ senate floor. that's civil process- i _ senate floor. that's civil process. i don't - senate floor. that's civil process. i don't know. senate floor. that's civil i process. i don't know why senate floor. that's civil - process. i don't know why you are laughing. it is a civil process. that is the way lawyers do it. to process. that is the way lawyers do it.— process. that is the way lawyers do it. to have called witnesses — witnesses would have prolonged the trial and is probably the last thing joe biden wants. holding up his plans to push through a covid relief package will make no difference to the trial outcome. but, of course, the person most relieved today's vote will be donald trump. he escapes conviction but he will go down as the first us president in history to be impeached twice. jon sopel to be impeached twice. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. let's look at how of how events unfolded on 6 january. at 8:00am that morning, president trump again tweeted allegations of vote fraud ahead of his rally in washington, dc. at in the morning members of the proud boy movement, a right—wing militia, are seen heading towards the capitol. at midday, president trump

was speaking at a rally and urged his supporters to march on the capitol. and at 1:15 an officer calls for reinforcements. next, at around 2:00pm vice president mike pence is evacuated from the senate floor and nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives, is taken to a secure location off site. the president tweets his anger towards his vice president. later he asks the protestors to go home. footage shows a sprawling mob and a sea of people on the capitol grounds. donald trump has released a statement. this is some of it. and:

we can get the reaction now of two senior senators. first mitch mcconnell, the minority leader of the republicans. he voted to acquit donald trump. but he said events on 6january wouldn't be forgotten and more action could still be coming. 6 january was a 6january was a disgrace. american citizens attacked their own government. they use terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of domestic business they did not like. fellow americans beat and bloodied our own police. they stormed the senate floor. they tried to hunt down the speaker

of the house. they built a gallows and charted about murdering the vice president —— chanted. they did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth, because he was angry he had lost an election. president trump's actions proceeded the riot or a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty. now to the leader of the democrats in the senate, chuck schumer. he says justice has not been done and the american people shouldn't forget what had happened when rioters stormed the us capitol. by by not recognising the heinous crime are donald trump committed against the constitution, republican

senators up not only risked but potentially invited the same danger that was just visited upon us. so let me say this, despite the results of the vote on donald trump's conviction in the court of impeachment he deserves to be convicted and i believe he will be convicted in the course of public opinion. he deserves to be permanently discredited, and i believe he has been discredited in the eyes of the american people and in thejudgement of eyes of the american people and in the judgement of history. we can now speak to anna greenberg, who's a pollster for the democratic party. thanks so much for coming on the programme.— thanks so much for coming on | the programme._ so the programme. sure thing. so democrats _ the programme. sure thing. so democrats have _ the programme. sure thing. so democrats have tried _ the programme. sure thing. so democrats have tried twice - the programme. sure thing. so| democrats have tried twice now to impeach president trump and they have failed twice.— they have failed twice. true. that more — they have failed twice. true. that more of— they have failed twice. true. that more of an _ they have failed twice. true. that more of an indictment l they have failed twice. true. l that more of an indictment of the republican party than the democratic party. in fact, the going into today's vote i think

everyone knew he would not be convicted and i think people were surprised 57th and it voted to convict. it was a much more bipartisan vote for impeachment anything anybody could have expected. find impeachment anything anybody could have expected.— could have expected. and what value has it _ could have expected. and what value has it given _ could have expected. and what value has it given he _ could have expected. and what value has it given he has- value has it given he has succeeded twice, been acquitted twice, and we have seen family members tweeting out pictures of him as a boxing champion, having these two wins under his belt. what good does it do for the democrats? i belt. what good does it do for the democrats?— the democrats? i think it was incredibly _ the democrats? i think it was incredibly important - the democrats? i think it was incredibly important that - the democrats? i think it was incredibly important that the | incredibly important that the house manages laid out a very clear and compelling case that, you know, it's pretty hard to refute about his responsibility for what happened at the capitol. it will be important for history, it will be important for anything that happens in the future that is initiated by him. so, sure, he didn't get convicted, but it was very important to lay out the case for moral reasons, for historical reasons. you know, historical reasons. you know, his movement is not over, it's not done. already the senators

who voted for his impeachment are being centred, people are being threatened. it is incredibly important for the people to know, who are behind this that we are all over it and it is not going away. so he wasn't convicted but it is not like we are moving on. pare wasn't convicted but it is not like we are moving on. are you scared at _ like we are moving on. are you scared at all— like we are moving on. are you scared at all the _ like we are moving on. are you scared at all the displays - like we are moving on. are you scared at all the displays into l scared at all the displays into his narrative that there is a big witch—hunt in washington, he's the outsider, and he has been victimised? hat been victimised? not particularly. - been victimised? not particularly. that - been victimised? not particularly. that is l been victimised? not. particularly. that is what been victimised? ijrrt particularly. that is what he has been saying for five years. he has been complaining that he won the popular vote in 2016, so he has been complaining about this for a long time. the fact he has been permanently banned from twitter has pretty effectively silenced him. it is not any surprise he has been saying the same things he has been saying for years and years, he has core supporters, is not persuading anybody. if anything you have seen both a decline in favourability for the republican party since the election and a significant, tens of thousands of people, have actually withdrawn from the republican party, like literally gone to the secretary of state's office and gotten

rid of their republican registrations. so i don't think this stuff will carry much water. , , ., water. just lastly, if you are riaht water. just lastly, if you are right and — water. just lastly, if you are right and democrats - water. just lastly, if you are right and democrats are - water. just lastly, if you are. right and democrats are right and this was the right thing to do and he was guilty, what does it say about the state of american politics that there was an acquittal today? you know, if— was an acquittal today? you know. if a — was an acquittal today? you know, if a mob _ was an acquittal today? you know, if a mob invaded - know, if a mob invaded parliament and tried to kill mps you would try to do it too. i think it was the right thing to do. it speaks to the polarisation of american politics. it speaks to the very different channels of communication information that people are subject to, people who watch cap box in the dark web had a very different experience of this impeachment than other people in this country. it speaks to the ongoing divisions in this country. ongoing divisions in this country-— country. anna greenberg, great to have you want. thank you. . we can now speak to evan mcmullin who was chief policy director for the house republican conference and ran as an independent in the 2016 presidential election. thanks so much for coming on the programme._

thanks so much for coming on the programme. great to be with ou. first the programme. great to be with you- first of _ the programme. great to be with you. first of all, _ the programme. great to be with you. first of all, we _ the programme. great to be with you. first of all, we will - the programme. great to be with you. first of all, we will stop - you. first of all, we will stop with your — you. first of all, we will stop with your reaction _ you. first of all, we will stop with your reaction to - you. first of all, we will stop with your reaction to what i with your reaction to what happened. with your reaction to what happened-— happened. well, it wasn't unexoeeted. _ happened. well, it wasn't unexpected, the - happened. well, it wasn't unexpected, the fact - happened. well, it wasn't unexpected, the fact that| unexpected, the fact that donald trump was acquitted, senate republicans had been signalling all along that they were not going to convict the president and so, you know, i will say i don't think this trial was about the facts, it wasn't about donald trump, and it wasn't about the insurrection. this was about republicans working hard and doing whatever they feel they need to do to hold onto power and that is really what's at play here, its power and its republicans in the senate, most of them understanding that if trump goes down, if he were to be convicted, it would further divide the party, which is inevitable, but they don't want to see that because they know that herds their re—election opportunities and they know it decreases the opportunity to take back the majority in the senate in 2020 to —— hurts. i will say that it is

encouraging, slightly, that seven republicans, an unexpected number, step up to do the right thing and to keep their oaths of office and to hold the president accountable for leading a violent insurrection, which was a coup attempt to overturn an election, overturned the will of the people, so he could remain in power illegitimately, something chai never thought i'd see in america. 50 something chai never thought i'd see in america.— i'd see in america. so given that, i'd see in america. so given that. your _ i'd see in america. so given that, your position - i'd see in america. so given that, your position is - i'd see in america. so given that, your position is to - that, your position is to praise the seven republicans who voted against the rest of their party, but what is your message to those republicans that voted to it donald trump? well, my message to them is that they need to be held accountable and that's what are you and many others, other principled republicans and conservatives will be working on over the next two years to ensure that as many as possible, as many senators who voted to a wet, who are for re—election in 2022, face challenges, whether in the

primaries or in the general election. they needed to be held accountable and is not just, this isn'tjust a one—time incident, there is now a pattern of senate republicans simply not doing the right thing, simply to protect their own opportunities after holding office... ,, ,, �* office... crosstalk. be held _ office... crosstalk. be held accountable. j office... crosstalk. - be held accountable. you are talkin: be held accountable. you are talking about _ be held accountable. you are talking about their _ be held accountable. you are talking about their motives . talking about their motives there, talking about political calculation to see their skin. but what about those republicans who voted to acquit because they just didn't republicans who voted to acquit because theyjust didn't think the process was right, whether or not it donald trump was guilty or not?— or not it donald trump was guilty or not? well, i would 'ust add guilty or not? well, i would just add that _ guilty or not? well, i would just add that i _ guilty or not? well, i would just add that i i'm - guilty or not? well, i would just add that i i'm not - just add that i i'm not speculating. i know them, eye worked with m, i know what they talk about in private and their public statements are enough. i'm not speculating. i will tell you that members of congress, in particular republicans, over the last few years have repeatedly used a figleaf of bogus procedural objections to bridge the divide

between doing the right thing and doing what they know is necessary for them to hold onto power in the short term or what they believe is necessary. that is a game they play and, frankly, i've had enough of it, i think the american people need to call it for what it is and rejected. they say... they arejust and rejected. they say... they are just not being honest when they raised these bogus procedural objections. that is all there is to it. this is really unfair _ all there is to it. this is really unfair to - all there is to it. this is really unfair to get - all there is to it. this is really unfair to get you | all there is to it. this is l really unfair to get you to answer it in a short, brief answer it in a short, brief answer because we are out of time, but do you think the republican party does face a properjoys now of potentially splitting in two, one following trump and one going in a different direction, or do you think there is a chance to keep the party united?— the party united? that's the firht in the party united? that's the fight in the _ the party united? that's the fight in the weeks _ the party united? that's the fight in the weeks and - the party united? that's the i fight in the weeks and months and years to come. but i will tell you, there is no way that a proto— authoritarian wing of the republican party can coexist in peace with a

pro—democracy wing of the republican party. so i expect that fight will continue until one side wings —— wins or until there is a break altogether. there is just no other way. evan mcmullin, great have you one as always. thank let's get more from our correspondent nomia iqbal who's there on capitol hill for us. great to see you. you have been there throughout another extraordinary day there in washington? it really was. i have to say though there was l have to say though there was no real cliffhanger with this impeachment trial. we knew how it was going to end. the only drama that happened was early this morning, when there with the potential for witnesses to be called, and this is all because of a phone call that emerged, this was an overnight story emerged, that a phone call emerged between donald trump and a republican called kevin mccarthy, which donald trump said was backing the

writers as they were ransacking the congress and this was one of the key argument that democrats had made that not only add donald trump insight the mob to carry out the violence that we saw on january six, but he had no problem with that while they were doing it. that went away quickly. the call for witnesses, and instead the child moved swiftly and endedin the child moved swiftly and ended in that result. that we saw, where the republicans back to donald trump —— trial and it was interesting listening to your guest there, where did they go from here? they made it clear that even though donald trump is no longer in the white house, he is still someone they value very much for their party. the stakes are always high for this impeachment trial, notjust for them but for the country because it opens up the possibility that donald trump can run for the office in the future again. nomia iqbal, we have heard from so many voices in this programme but the one name we have not mentioned isjoe biden, of course, the current president and i'm sure he's

actually quite pleased with that. he has been trying to keep his distance from this why is that? i keep his distance from this why is that? ~ �* , ., , ., is that? i think it's a smart move by — is that? i think it's a smart move by him _ is that? i think it's a smart move by him to _ is that? i think it's a smart move by him to do - is that? i think it's a smart move by him to do that. is that? i think it's a smart - move by him to do that because of course he wants to get on with delivering the promises that he made on the campaign trail. he did comment at the start of the trial, saying he hoped that his colleagues in the senate would do the right thing, and remember, joe biden knows all of them, he has been in politics for nearly half a century. but i think that while we do not know exactly what his view is on donald trump being acquitted, that statement is due to come at some point today, what this means is that joe biden can get on with trying to pass this covid relief package and also try to confirm a loss of his nominations as well, and for joe biden, i think he wants his time and presidency, he wants the success of his presidency to be down to delivering

policies that have nothing to do with this impeachment trial. what is ironic is that both impeachment trial involving donald trump have involved joe biden! but it will be in 20 have to say and we are expecting a statement and it does mean —— but what will be interesting to say. does mean -- but what will be interesting to say.— interesting to say. anyone watching. _ interesting to say. anyone watching, thinking - interesting to say. anyone watching, thinking that. interesting to say. anyone watching, thinking that is| interesting to say. anyone l watching, thinking that is it, thatis watching, thinking that is it, that is it, the former president donald trump has been acquitted and not in office anymore, that is it, done and dusted. farfrom it. already, senior republicans are going to go and see him to talk about the future of the party? i think they are politically tethered to donald trump as long as he is popular and he is very popular. he made a point of mentioning how we got more than 75 million votes in the election, and of coursejoe biden got more of that but he will never mention that. and when i travelled around the

united states, i've seen firsthand just how popular he is. there are people that worship him and there are those who don't necessarily like him or his style, but they like his policies on immigration, for example, and on tax cuts. i think that as long as he is popular and has influence, we are not likely to see the back of him. there are also some suggestions that his children, ivanka trump, donald trump suggestions that his children, ivanka trump, donald trumer, may also run in some form of office. so i think the republican party, certainly today, have pretty much underlined this view that is being held by many in washington that donald trump is still very, very important to their party. b. still very, very important to their party-— still very, very important to their party. a remarkable day there. thank _ their party. a remarkable day there. thank you, _ their party. a remarkable day there. thank you, nomia. - let's get some of the day's other news. a strong earthquake has hit japan, just weeks before the tenth anniversary of the quake that caused a nuclear meltdown in fukushima. at a magnitude of 7.3, the earthquake produced

powerful shaking along parts of the east coast, and was felt strongly in tokyo, but triggered no tsunami alert. no major casualties have been reported, but more than 50 were injured. local news broadcast images of a landslide on a highway, but there were no other immediate reports of significant damage. there are calls for china to make more data about the earliest stages of the coronavirus pandemic available. the world health organization says only limited information was given to the team that visited wuhan where the pandemic started. the who says information had been withheld despite repeated requests. beijing has insisted it has been transparent with the investigators. south africa is to reopen 20 of its land border crossings, closed last month to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. south africa has recorded the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths on the african continent, with more than 1.4 million cases and more than 117,000 deaths. the country has been hit hard by a second wave of infections linked to a new variant identified in south africa

at the end of last year. let's get the latest on the military coup in myanmar. the army has released the names of seven opposition activists they want arrested. they're being accused of disturbing tranquility, a charge that is not used very often. large demonstrations against the military takeover are continuing across the country. kyaw win is the director of burma human rights network. we can speak now. thank you for coming on the programme. we are seeing continued to protest, no doubt, bravely encouraged by those on the streets. how long do you think the military there will put up with this? this do you think the military there will put up with this?— will put up with this? as you know, will put up with this? as you know. from _ will put up with this? as you know, from the _ will put up with this? as you know, from the past - will put up with this? as you - know, from the past experience, the military, they very much do

not care about humanity or have sympathy to the people. they are willing to use any type of violent forces so what we're looking at now is what we're seeing now, the military is using deadly tactics, creating psychological pressure on the people. they have sent a group of people, yesterday night and tonight, across many cities and towns in burma, people who are drugged and who may be released from prison recently, because today they released over 2300 prisoners, criminals, and anti—muslim hardliners, and they are going in different directions and the police and the police is using the fake

evidence to drop these people in different locations across burma, and they are carrying out heinous attacks, committing arson attacks to some areas, and we have received reports that some houses have been burnt down last night. also,... they have poisoned to put poison in the water tanks. those are the kind of think they are doing now. 0k, what about the options _ they are doing now. 0k, what about the options open - they are doing now. 0k, what about the options open to - they are doing now. 0k, what about the options open to the protesters then, activists, many out with their phones and uploading footage, that is one tactic but what options are open to them to try and bring back the democracy that they knew just a few days back the democracy that they knewjust a few days ago? you know, knewjust a few days ago? you know. this _ knewjust a few days ago? you know, this is _ knewjust a few days ago? you know, this is a _ knewjust a few days ago? m. know, this is a struggle between generations that, the younger generation, they are well aware of the technology

and they are bringing new ideas in the protest and they are trying to bring the police to their side and they are using technology but the problem is burma is now strongly supported by china —— generation z and well equipped with all the surveillance equipment and they have used equipment from china and using it against the population and against the people in burma. so this is the struggle we are having. also, they have many experts on the psychological warfare, they are creating so much psychological pressure on the protesters. for example, in the nighttime, they are creating scaremongering attacks and they take it on the streets... ._ streets... . 0k, sorry to “ump in but we i streets... . 0k, sorry to “ump in but we are i streets... . 0k, sorry to “ump in but we are coming h streets... . 0k, sorry to “ump in but we are coming to h in but we are coming to the end of our programme so we have to leave it there. thank you for talking to us through that, kyaw win. thank you.

you can reach me on twitter — i'm @lvaughanjones this is bbc news. goodbye. the temperatures in the isles of scilly reached 10 celsius on saturday evening and that's the first time we've had double figures in the uk in a week. so the sun is now setting on this spell of bitterly cold weather. for all of us in the week ahead, it will be much milder. we'll notice it by day and by night. but it means the return of spells of rain on what will be quite a blustery week. already as sunday begins, milderair is nudging into western parts. for many of us, it's one last cold morning as temperatures hover close to freezing. there is a bit of wet weather moving in from the atlantic and for scotland and northern england, there's a chance of seeing some freezing rain, rain that freezes instantly as it

hits the surface and that could make things treacherously icy in some spots as we go through sunday. so, do have that in your mind if you plan on making a journey. for all of us, it will be cloudy and there will be outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards as the day goes on and it will be windy, particularly across the irish sea coasts northern ireland, western scotland and into the area, up to around 70 mph and if you're outside, you will notice it feeling much milder. where as across the eastern parts, well, it is still another cold day but not quite as cold as it's been an temperatures will continue to rise as we go through sunday night. cloud and outbreaks of rain still across parts of england and wales going into monday morning. elsewhere, some clearer spells and a few showers. these are the temperatures as we start off on monday morning. many of us did not even reach that for a high in the past week. the air is coming from a different direction, low—pressure

dominating things now, pulling in air from the southwest, but on that flow, we will get these wet and windy weather systems at times. but this flow is from a different, warmer direction and lifting temperatures above the average for this time of year for some of us. still a bit of rain affecting parts of the eastern side of england as monday begins. some showers pushing from southwest to northeast elsewhere, but for many of us, a large part of the day will be dry. some breaks in cloud and the few sunny spells. 13 celsius in london, 9 in glasgow. it stays mild for the rest of the week. there will be further spells of rain and it will be blustery. but what a different week from last week.

this is bbc news. the headlines: donald trump has been aquitted in his second impeachment trial after senators failed to reach the two—thirds majority of votes needed to convict him. the former president was facing one charge of inciting

an insurrection after protesters stormed the us capitol building in january. the yays 57, the names of a3. two—thirds of the senators present having not found guilty. the senate judges that the respondent, donald john trump, former president of the united states, is not guilty as charged in the article of impeachment. seven republican senators voted with democrats by 57—a3 to convict mr trump while others openly condemned his conduct. meanwhile, he's put out a statement vowing to carry on fighting with his "beautiful, patriotic followers". and in other news, myanmar�*s military has named seven opposition campaigners they want arrested as the army performs night—time raids, following mass protests sparked by their coup.