welcome to bbc news — i'm lewis vaughanjones. 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 of the senators present having voted guilty. the senatorjudges that the respondent, donald john trump, former president of the united states is not guilty as charged. the charge related to the storming of the capitol injanuary. the senate's republican leader mitch mcconnell voted to acquit, but condemned 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.�* and in other news — myanmar�*s military leaders release a list of seven opposition campaigners they want to arrest as the army steps up night time raids on civilians. 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 find him guilty of the single charge of incitement of insurrection. seven republican senators voted with their democratic colleagues 10 short of what was needed for conviction. our north america editorjon

sopel begins our coverage. after sopel begins our coverage. four days of acrimoniol hearings, after four days of acrimonious hearings, the second impeachment trial of donald trump came to a close and the vote to convict or acquit. the senatorjudges _ vote to convict or acquit. the senatorjudges that - vote to convict or acquit. tue: senatorjudges that the senator judges that the respondent, donald senatorjudges that the respondent, donald john trump, former president of the united states is not guilty as charged. states is not guilty as charged-— states is not guilty as charued. ,, . , ., ., , charged. several senators did find him guilty, _ charged. several senators did find him guilty, but _ charged. several senators did find him guilty, but not - charged. several senators did i find him guilty, but not enough to convict. they launched a lacerating attack on donald trump and his behaviour. there is no question, _ trump and his behaviour. there is no question, non-, _ trump and his behaviour. there is no question, non-, that - is no question, non—, 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.-

instructions of their president. instructions of their resident. , ., president. the events of january _ president. the events of january the _ president. the events of january the 6th, - president. the events of january the 6th, when . president. the events of i january the 6th, when the president. the events of - january the 6th, when the trump supporting mob marched on congress and run amok after the former president told them to march 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 onjanuary the cold, hard truth is that what happened on january the 6th, can happen what happened onjanuary the 6th, can happen again. this impeachment _ 6th, can happen again. this impeachment has _ 6th, can happen again. this impeachment has been - 6th, can happen again. this impeachment has been a complete charade _ impeachment has been a complete charade from beginning to end. the entire _ charade from beginning to end. the entire spectacle has been nothing — 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. earlier, — trump by the opposition party. earlier, there was a mighty kerfuffle over whether democrats would call witnesses, following a new disclosure about comments allegedly made by the president while the right was going on. in by the president while the right was going on.- right was going on. in the middle of _ right was going on. in the middle of the _ right was going on. in the j middle of the insurrection right was going on. in the - middle of the insurrection when

house minority leader, kevin mccarthy, begged the president to call for head, the president responded, well, kevin, i guess these people are more upset about the election than you are. , ., , �* about the election than you are. , �* ,. , are. this wasn't in the script. at times, _ are. this wasn't in the script. at times, the _ are. this wasn't in the script. at times, the exchanges - are. this wasn't in the script. | at times, the exchanges seem are. this wasn't in the script. - at times, the exchanges seem to belong to the school playground, ratherthan belong to the school playground, rather than the senate floor.— senate floor. that is civil process. _ senate floor. that is civil process. i _ senate floor. that is civil process, i don't - senate floor. that is civil process, i don't know - senate floor. that is civil| process, i don't know why senate floor. that is civil - process, i don't know why you are laughing. that is the way lawyers do it. to are laughing. that is the way lawyers do it— lawyers do it. to have called witnesses — lawyers do it. to have called witnesses would _ lawyers do it. to have called witnesses would have - lawyers do it. to have called - witnesses would have prolonged the trial and probably the last thing joe biden wants, holding up thing joe biden wants, holding up his plans to push through a covid relief package. it would make no difference to the trial outcome. but the person most relieved will be donald trump. he escaped conviction, but he will go down as the first us president in history to be impeached twice. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. let's look at how events unfolded on the 6th of january. at 8am that morning,

president trump again tweeted allegations of vote fraud ahead of his rally in washington dc. at 10:00 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 to the capitol. and at 1:15 — an officer calls for reinforcements. next — at around 2pm 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. 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 the 6th of january wouldn't be forgotten and more action could still be coming. january 6th was a disgrace. american citizens attacked their own government. they used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of domestic business they did not like. fellow americans beaten 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 chanted about murdering the vice president. they did this because they'd been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth because he was angry he'd lost an election.

former president trump's actions preceded the riot and it was 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 not recognising the heinous crime that donald trump committed against the constitution, republican senators of 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 court 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 the judgement of history. donald trump has released a statement. he accused the democratic party of getting a free pass to denigrate the rule of law and suppress other viewpoints. he went on to say... also adding... with me now is dr carol m swain, a political scientist and republican. thank you for coming on the programme. it thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the programme. it is my pleasure. donald trump _ programme. it is my pleasure. donald trump acquitted - programme. it is my pleasure. donald trump acquitted but. donald trump acquitted but senior republican saying he is

still practically and morally responsible for what happened and that is still hugely damaging? t and that is still hugely damaging?— and that is still hugely damaging? and that is still hugely damauain? ., ~. damaging? i would say mitch mcconnell— damaging? i would say mitch mcconnell does _ damaging? i would say mitch mcconnell does not - damaging? i would say mitch mcconnell does not have - damaging? i would say mitch mcconnell does not have a i damaging? i would say mitch | mcconnell does not have a lot of credibility with many republicans. he is part of the establishment. he has troubling ties to china. i think the establishment republicans would like to see someone else as a presidential nominee in 2024, so they have an incentive to join with democrats to try to ensure that donaldj trump never runs for office again. there are very few people, there are many people, rather, who see mitch mcconnell as republican. if you don't think he is, that is fine, but it is you who are separate and want to take the party into perhaps a new direction?— to take the party into perhaps a new direction? what i would sa , a new direction? what i would say. there _ a new direction? what i would say. there are _ a new direction? what i would say, there are some _ a new direction? what i would i say, there are some republicans that are very establishment. they are not connected with the

people. they have continually voted for their own separate interest, they have been in congress too long. mitch mcconnell is one of them and president trump worked hard to get him re—elected. as far as president trump being acquitted, i categorically agree with the characterisation that the president's words incited the ride. i know the information that was supposed to be presented onjanuary the 6th that was disrupted by the riot. so i think the republicans and for president trump, it would have been in his best interest for the senate to be able to carry out its business. there were troubling election irregularities and democrats are trying to change the subject. the fact is, they have been trying to impeach president trump before he was inaugurated and there was tremendous unrest at his inauguration. i know, because i was there. there were people who were injured and the very

idea democrats had nothing to say when black lives matter were burning down our cities over the last few months, then all of a sudden they are horrified by what happened on capitol hill, it pales in comparison to what has been taking place in many of our cities. , ., ~ taking place in many of our cities. i. ~ , .,, cities. do you think people, rioters breaking _ cities. do you think people, rioters breaking in - cities. do you think people, rioters breaking in to - cities. do you think people, rioters breaking in to the i rioters breaking in to the capitol, an and absolutely extraordinary historic event... this is what i say, it was clear that the fbi at the capitol hill police and nancy pelosi knew that there was a plan to attack the capitol and there were antifa and black lives matter members there that are not being talked about. they were there.— are not being talked about. they were there.- are not being talked about. they were there. you don't get to make claims _ they were there. you don't get to make claims like _ they were there. you don't get to make claims like that - to make claims like that without having extraordinary evidence and you don't have the evidence. these were trump

supporters on the floor. please, i know!- supporters on the floor. please, i know! , , please, i know! they were trump suoporters _ please, i know! they were trump suoporters on _ please, i know! they were trump supporters on the _ please, i know! they were trump supporters on the floor. - please, i know! they were trump supporters on the floor. you - supporters on the floor. you are wrong- _ supporters on the floor. you are wrong. they _ supporters on the floor. you are wrong. they were - supporters on the floor. ym. are wrong. they were antifa and black lives matter is supporters there, some of them were arrested. you only hear what the mainstream media wants you to hear. what the mainstream media wants you to hear-— you to hear. you have to present _ you to hear. you have to present extraordinary i you to hear. you have to - present extraordinary evidence to make those claims. yes present extraordinary evidence to make those claims.- to make those claims. yes i can, to make those claims. yes i can. you — to make those claims. yes i can. you just _ to make those claims. yes i can, you just don't - to make those claims. yes i can, you just don't want - to make those claims. yes i can, you just don't want to l can, you just don't want to hear it. can, you 'ust don't want to hear it. �* , ., can, you 'ust don't want to hear it. �*, ., ., can, you 'ust don't want to hearit. �*, ., ., ., hear it. let's move on to the future of _ hear it. let's move on to the future of the _ hear it. let's move on to the future of the republican - hear it. let's move on to the l future of the republican party, is there going to be a split? t is there going to be a split? i don't know if there were going to be a split. if i was leading the republican party i would be focused on the election irregularities that took place across the country otherwise the republicans lose in 2022, 2024 if they don't address the irregularities that took place. it is up to the republican establishment about the future

of the republican party. unless the leaders get in sync with the leaders get in sync with the people, i think the republican party may be toast and be replaced by another party. i think we always have a 2—party system in america, but it doesn't have to be the democrats and the republicans. the republican party may die to be replaced by a third party that becomes the second party. 0k, thank you for coming on the programme. 0k, thank you for coming on the programme-— with me now is robin swanson, a democratic strategist. an extraordinary day on capitol hill, although the result was pretty much as expected. does this chalk up to another failure for the democrats, they have had two goes at impeachment and they failed two times? ., . . . impeachment and they failed two times? ., ., ., ., ., times? not at all, what i am heafina times? not at all, what i am hearing from _ times? not at all, what i am hearing from your _ times? not at all, what i am hearing from your previous | hearing from your previous guess is a circularfiring squad the republican party. absolutely it is time to move

forward and move away from the era of chaos and all the chaos donald trump created. i think right now, we had seven republicans that were voting for impeachment and that is quite historic. we had 57 senators voting to impeach the president for inciting a riot at the capitol. we have all seen the news feed, we have all seen the news feed, we have all seen the news feed, we have all seen the evidence and we know what happened. i think now we are ready to turn the page, took aboutjoe biden's agender, talkabout minimum wage and talk about the pandemic and how we are going to vaccinate americans and take the wind out of the sails of the well�*s biggest narcissist by not talking about him all the time. not talking about him will be difficult because he will be vindicated and he says in a

statement, there is more to come. ., , �* ., statement, there is more to come. ., ,�* ., ., statement, there is more to come. ., , �* ., ., , come. he doesn't have a big megaphone _ come. he doesn't have a big megaphone because - come. he doesn't have a big megaphone because he - come. he doesn't have a big i megaphone because he doesn't have twitter any more. it is harder to generate the noise and theories and create riots and theories and create riots and incite insurrection at the capitol when he doesn't have the internet. i think we're going to hear a lot less him in mainstream media and i think thatis mainstream media and i think that is for the better so we can focus on civilised discourse, things americans turn about and turning the chapter to a more sane america. democrats now have the challenge, at one point saying job done, we tried our best and it didn't work out what it is there on the record, let's move on. in fact, joe biden has played his tactics, trying to distance himself from the whole process and trying to not comment on what is going on on capitol hill to keep his powder

dry to talk about his agenda. do you think it is the right thing for him to do or will he be tarnished by this? i thing for him to do or will he be tarnished by this?- be tarnished by this? i don't think this — be tarnished by this? i don't think this touches _ be tarnished by this? i don't think this touches president | think this touches president joe biden at all. i think he is brilliant to look forward, that is what americans are hoping for. we are looking to see our kids go back to school, looking to see the economy full back into place and looking to see people employed. there is so much to look forward to that the republicans who are looking backwards and wanting to recreate scenarios and rewrite history that never existed, they can do that on their own time. right now, we are looking forward to building america back better.— forward to building america back better. ., ~ , ., . back better. thank you so much for coming _ back better. thank you so much for coming on. _ back better. thank you so much for coming on, great _ back better. thank you so much for coming on, great to - back better. thank you so much for coming on, great to talk- back better. thank you so much for coming on, great to talk to i for coming on, great to talk to you. for coming on, great to talk to ou. ., ~' for coming on, great to talk to ou. ., ~ , ., for coming on, great to talk to ou. ., ., ,, we for coming on, great to talk to you-_ we will - for coming on, great to talk to you._ we will leave| you. thank you. we will leave washington — you. thank you. we will leave washington now. _ let's go to myanmar next where the military leaders of the coup have released the names of seven opposition activists they want arrested.

large demonstrations against the military takeover have continued across the country. paul hawkins has more. an eighth successive day of demonstrations. this was yangon city on saturday afternoon. hundreds of thousands still marching and still ignoring the military crackdown on the protest. the latest tactic by the coup leaders, suspending laws stopping security services from detaining suspects or searching private property without court approval. they've also released the names of seven opposition activists they accuse of disturbing tranquillity, a rarely use charge. human rights watch says over 300 people have now been detained, many of them during night—time raids. we have neighborhoods now who are trying to organise, they are using pot banging when it looks like the police or military are coming into the area to possibly arrest someone, to warn people. so it really has become a situation where the crackdown is now going after anybody that the military identifies

as leaders of these protests. meanwhile, football is also playing its part in the protests. outside the country's national stadium, many of the country's top footballers have also been making their voice heard. translation: we will only play football on the street _ until we get democracy. we won't play for the national team under the military dictatorship. we are protesting to send that message. translation: will are football players, but we are also - citizens of myanmar. we know people have relied on each other in this moment, so people from sport are participating in this revelation too. the us is still the only country to impose sanctions on myanmar�*s military so far, with the rest of the world still wondering whether to follow suit, the protests and the arrests go on. kingsley abbott is the director

of global accountability at the international commission ofjurists, a geneva—based human rights 0rganisation. he joins us from auckland in new zealand. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for coming on the programme-— programme. good morning. worrying — programme. good morning. worrying developments - programme. good morning. i worrying developments there programme. good morning. - worrying developments there for people in the field of human rights, courageous demonstrators on the streets, what specifically are the risks now? �* , , ., what specifically are the risks now? ~ , , ., ,., , now? as you reported, seven campaigners _ now? as you reported, seven campaigners are _ now? as you reported, seven campaigners are now - now? as you reported, seven campaigners are now wanted | campaigners are now wanted under the penal code for threatening public trans quality and that carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to two years. it is an old, colonial law and it is often used to criminalise free expression and it should have been repealed years ago. it could be used to arrest anyone on any pretext. what is alarming, as you have reported, it is taking place against the backdrop of other developments. the military have issued an

order for the detention of people without court oversight and the military is now above the law. these developments are a full frontal assault on human rights and rule of law in myanmar. rights and rule of law in myanmar-— rights and rule of law in m anmar. ., ., , , myanmar. how do you see this bein: myanmar. how do you see this being changed? _ myanmar. how do you see this being changed? is _ myanmar. how do you see this being changed? is it _ myanmar. how do you see this being changed? is it a - myanmar. how do you see this being changed? is it a case - myanmar. how do you see this being changed? is it a case of| being changed? is it a case of international pressure, can you see the military backing down? no one knows where these protests are going to go, but fear of returning to myanmar�*s bloody past is at the front of everybody�*s mines. the situation is escalating, rather than de—escalating. what is remarkable is the level of solidarity we are seeing across age groups, different professions, it is notjust about politics and aung san suu kyi this time, it is about wanting democracy and rejecting military rule. we are witnessing a very intense social upheaval. the international community needs

to come together as one voice and address the situation. i don't mean the west and the us, but india, japan, china and others who have an interest instability in myanmar and the region. instability in myanmar and the reuion. ~ ., instability in myanmar and the re.ion_ . ., ., region. what about the protesters _ region. what about the | protesters themselves, region. what about the - protesters themselves, the images we have just seen, lots of young people borrowing techniques from other protests in the region?— in the region? incredible, in some ways _ in the region? incredible, in some ways it _ in the region? incredible, in some ways it reminds - in the region? incredible, in some ways it reminds you i in the region? incredible, in| some ways it reminds you of other protests we have seen in the region over recent years in hong kong and in thailand and elsewhere. what we are seeing is the youth are internet savvy, they are connected to the world and they were just starting to become global citizens and now they are seeing their future is citizens and now they are seeing theirfuture is being ripped away from them. they really need protection at this time during the social upheaval.— time during the social uheaval. ., ,, , ., , time during the social uheaval. ., ~' , . upheaval. thank you very much for coming _ upheaval. thank you very much for coming on _ upheaval. thank you very much for coming on the _ upheaval. thank you very much for coming on the programme. | let's get some of

the day's other news. a strong earthquake has hit japan, just weeks before the 10th 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. more than 50 people have been reported injured. local news broadcast images of a landslide on a highway. 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 47,000 deaths. the country has been hit hard by a second wave of infections linked to a local variant identified at the end of last yea. here in the uk, heathrow airport says there are still �*signficiant gaps' in the hotel quarantine plan due to come into effect in just over 24 hours time. arrivals from 33 countries will have to spend ten days

in government—designated accomodation, as officials try to prevent new coronavirus variants from coming into the country. the government says it's working closely with airports and hotels to ensure the new process runs as smoothly as possible. this should've been one of the mostjoyous weekends in brazil's calendar. rio carnival, is one of the biggest parties in the world but this year it's been cancelled. it's hit businesses hard in a country already devastated by the pandemic. tanya dendrinos reports. 0verflowing with people and colour, this is what rio typically looks like during carnival. february 2020 saw parties in full swing. fast forward a year, the scene is very different. translation: ., .,., translation: compared to other ears, translation: compared to other years. everything _ translation: compared to other years. everything is— translation: compared to other years, everything is paralysed. - years, everything is paralysed. we are praying and grateful for the little still coming in, but

without the carnival, there is no movement.— without the carnival, there is no movement. the financial toll is undeniable. _ is undeniable. translation: , translation: everything financially _ translation: everything financially depends - translation: everything financially depends on - translation: everything - financially depends on crowds. we need christ to sell beer for people to get together for a party, a football match and all of this involves a crowd and the pandemic has cancelled all crowds. the pandemic has cancelled out our work, 100%. but this is because of the human cost of the pandemic. brazil is one of the worst affected, with 1.79 million coronavirus cases on the number of debts approaching 240000 and counting. in a tribute, the sambodromo, usually the beating heart of carnival has been illuminated. the hope is for a triumphant return in 2022. for that, all hopes are pinned on the success of vaccines and so

comes the need for diversification. translation: , , translation: the coolers we use annuau translation: the coolers we use annually for _ translation: the coolers we use annually for carnival— translation: the coolers we use annually for carnival were - annually for carnival were needed at health sites for the storage of vaccines. what we have bought the carnival, we have bought the carnival, we have donated to the health ministry with the small adjustment for the storage of vaccines. ., ., , , vaccines. for now, the sequins and feathers — vaccines. for now, the sequins and feathers remain _ vaccines. for now, the sequins and feathers remain nice, - vaccines. for now, the sequins and feathers remain nice, too. j it's notjust brazil where carnival has been cancelled. in germany, the famous rose monday parade in cologne has also become a victim of the pandemic. but the goseberg family found a way for the show to go on. they recreated the carnival excitement, decorating floats and including all the characters who would normally be represented — princes, princesses, farmers, police, dancers and spectators. the rose monday parade in miniature — continuing the tradition until it's back again on the streets of cologne.

that is it from me. i am lewis vaughan—jones, with bbc news. hello. the temperature in the isles of scilly reach 10 celsius on saturday and that is the first time we have had double figures in the uk in a week. the sun is setting on the speu week. the sun is setting on the spell of bitterly cold weather and for all of us in the week ahead it will be much milder. but it means the return of spells of rain on what will be a blustery week. on sunday begins the milder air nudging into westernmost parts, but for many others there is one last cold morning as temperatures hover close to freezing. there is wet weather moving in from the atlantic and for scotland and northern england, there is and northern england, there is a chance of seeing freezing rain, rain that freezes instantly as it hits any surface. that could make things

treacherously icy for some spots on sunday. have that in mind if you need to be making a journey. forall mind if you need to be making a journey. for all it will be cloudy and outbreaks of rain spreading east as the day goes on. it will be windy, particularly around irish sea coast, the eastern side of northern ireland, western scotland into the inner and outer hebrides. we will see gusts up to 70 mph, so some big ways. if you are outside you will notice it feeling much milder but across eastern parts, it is still another cold day. not quite as cold as it has been an temperatures will continue to rise as we go through sunday night. cloud and outbreaks of rain across parts of england and wales on monday morning. elsewhere, some clear spells and a few showers. these are temperatures as we start monday morning. many others didn't even reach that for a high in the past week. the air is coming in from a different direction and low pressure dominating things and pulling in the airfrom

dominating things and pulling in the air from the south—west. but we will get is wet and windy weather systems but this flow is from a different, warmer direction, lifting temperatures back above the average for the time of year for some of us. still a bit of rain affecting parts of the eastern side of england as monday begins. showers pushing in from southwest and elsewhere. but the large part of the day will be dry, breaks in the cloud and a few sunny spells, 30 celsius in london. nine in glasgow. it stays mild for the rest of the week and 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 acquitted 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. seven republican senators voted with democrats by 57—43 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 leaders, who seized power almost two weeks ago, have released a list of seven opposition campaigners they want to arrest. it comes as the army performs night—time raids, following mass protests against their coup.

it's normally a time when restaurants are booked up