i sandra prunella mason _ the chiefjustice. i sandra prunella mason do - the chiefjustice. a mason do swear| the chiefjustice. i sandra - prunella mason do swear that i will be — prunella mason do swear that i will be faithful and ben true a leadon— will be faithful and ben true a leadon to barbados according to law, so— leadon to barbados according to law, so help me god. i, sandra prunella — law, so help me god. i, sandra prunella mason do swear that i will well— prunella mason do swear that i will well and truly serve barbados in the office of president, so help me god. applause dame sandra mason, the country's eighth governor general has officially taken the oath of office as the new president of barbados, the world's newest republic. we are watching these live events in the barbados capital, bridgetown, she has been sworn in by sir patterson cheltenham, the country's chiefjustice. it is just a couple of minutes past midnight in barbados and they have officially lost queen elizabeth ii as the head of state. the country has been independent since 1966 and that was 55 year

i, sandra prunella mason, do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados, according increasingly looking east, to china, for financial support. there are republican rumblings, too, in other caribbean nations. they will be watching this newest republic closely. daniela relph, bbc news, bridgetown, barbados. nato foreign ministers are meeting in latvia to discuss the build—up of russian forces on the border with ukraine. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, here meeting the latvian prime minister, has also held talks with his nato counterparts on the growing numbers of migrants gathering on poland's frontier with belarus. it follows calls from warsaw for more international help well, our europe editor, katya adler has been speaking to the polish prime minister about the threat posed by russia. katya joins me now. what did he have to say? sitting down with the polish prime minister, he really gives you the impression of a man on a mission. he wants to drive home to all of us and his allies in nato and in the eu as well that threat that he perceives from vladimir p

. >> i, sandra prunella mason, do swear that i will well and truly serve barbados in the office of presidentcutting 400 years of british ties. many british fortunes made from sugar and slavery. prince charles was on hand to reflect on the island's journey as well. >> the creation of this republic offers a new beginning, but it also marks a point on a continuum, a milestone on the long road you have not only traveled, but which you have built. >> and a different sort of queen honored there. pop star rihanna was named a national hero. ♪ beautiful like diamonds in the sky ♪ ♪ shine bright like a diamond ♪ ♪ shine bright like a diamond ♪ ♪ you're beautiful ♪ >> the move by barbados marks the first time in nearly 30 years that a realm has removed the british monarch as head of state. it will remain part of the commonwealth. rihanna always a hero. >> love everything rihanna -- a business woman, by the way. >> yes. >> let's get a check of markets. the c.e.o. said they could struggle with the omicron variant. you can see asian shares mixed right now. europe has opened lower, at least 1% lower. stock

sandra mason. i, sandra prunella mason, do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados according daniela relph was at the ceremony. some of this country's most well—known names were among the vip guests attending the transition ceremony. rise! generals, salute! and also here to watch it all play out, the prince of wales — invited to see his mother removed as the head of state, the first time that has happened anywhere in 30 years. for the final time on this caribbean island, he viewed a military march past and took the final salute. and then, the symbolic moment of transition. as the royal standard was lowered over barbados, it became a republic. bell tolls it's hard to imagine that this event wasn't tinged with some sadness for the prince of wales. he's focused on the enduring friendship between two nations, and also spoken directly about the pain of a shared history. from the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude. emancipation, self—government, an

i, sandra prunella mason, do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados accordingto china for financial support. there are republican rumblings, too, in other caribbean nations. they will be watching this newest republic closely. more than 100,000 homes in parts of scotland and the north of england remain without power because of damage caused by storm arwen. schools in aberdeenshire remain closed, while whole villages in cumbria still have no power and it's not clear when it will be restored — mark mcalindon has this report. it might look like a winter wonderland up here but for the people of nenthead, it really is as if hell has frozen over. the power went off last week and still the village waits to be reconnected. has anyone told you when you might be able to expect to get power back on? i heard a rumour in the local shop, could be friday. how does that make you feel? it is a long time to go, isn't it? we've got the whole week. there's no lights, heating, no access to the internet. they are cut off, and for some, there is only one way to feed yourself. it's bee

i, sandra prunella mason, do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados accordingsh monarchy, barbados is increasingly looking east to china for financial support. there are republican rumblings, too, in other caribbean nations. they will be watching this newest republic closely. and our correspondent celestina olulude, who's in barbados, gave us this update. welcome to the world's newest republic. this is all important to this nation— republic. this is all important to this nation because for the first time _ this nation because for the first time ever— this nation because for the first time ever it has a barbadian head of statei _ time ever it has a barbadian head of state, dame sandra mason who is the president— state, dame sandra mason who is the president of— state, dame sandra mason who is the president of this country. last week i president of this country. last week i met_ president of this country. last week i met the _ president of this country. last week i met the prime minister who said that this _ i met the prime minister who said that this is — i met

i, sandra prunella mason do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados accordingting aside the official link to the british monarchy, barbados is increasingly looking east to china for financial support. there are republican rumblings, too, in other caribbean nations. they will be watching this newest republic closely. our correspondent celestina olulode is in bridgetown for us. tell us about last night, did it feel like the beginning of a new chapter? feel like the beginning of a new chater? ~ . ., , feel like the beginning of a new chater? . ., , q feel like the beginning of a new chater? . ., , a chapter? most certainly. as you heard, this _ chapter? most certainly. as you heard, this nation _ chapter? most certainly. as you heard, this nation as _ chapter? most certainly. as you heard, this nation as its - chapter? most certainly. as you heard, this nation as its first - chapter? most certainly. as you | heard, this nation as its first ever president. dame sandra mason. she is now the head of state of this country and so it does feel like a new chapter. a few

i, sandra prunella mason, do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados, accordingetary of state, antony blinken, seen here meeting the latvian prime minister, has also held talks with his nato counterparts about the growing numbers of migrants gathering on poland's border with belarus. our europe editor katya adler has been speaking to the polish prime minister, about the threat posed by russia. gives you the impression of a man on a mission, he wants to drive home to all of us and his allies in nato and in the european union as well, that threat that he perceives from vladimir putin in moscow and his ally in belarus. and what he's saying is that the west has to join the dots more, see what's going on in all of the region. so whether it's about the migrant crisis on poland's border with belarus being talked about in nato today, the buildup of russian troops on ukraine's border also being talked about in nato or those soaring gas prices that are making all of us suffer right now, that poland is convinced that moscow is behind it all. we are now confronted with a ser