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Biden inauguration: Amanda Gorman’s poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ in full

Joe Biden was inaugurated as the United States’ president on Wednesday, in a ceremony on the steps of the US Capitol that – two weeks ago – was attacked by Donald Trump’s supporters. The nation’s youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, watched those chaotic scenes as she wrote her inaugural poem, ‘The Hill We Climb’, which the 22-year-old delivered after Mr Biden took his oath of office, and you can read here in full: Mr President, Dr Biden, Madam...

Trump news - live: Secret Service extended for ex-president’s kids, as Melania sends message with final dress

Donald Trump arrived in Palm Beach, Florida, on Air Force One shortly to resume civilian life at Mar-a-Lago after departing the White House for the final time on Wednesday morning. "It was a privelege to be your president," he told the small his farewell event at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One with wife Melania for the last time. Before his term came to an official end, Trump slipped in a last-minute pardon for the husband of...

Supermarket face mask crackdown risks discriminating against disabled shoppers, warns watchdog

One disability rights organisation said it has received an 'avalanche' of inquiries about disability discrimination in recent days

Overhaul of skills and vocational education to focus on employability

The government is to publish its long-promised overhaul of skills and vocational education in England, which will give employers a direct role in designing new qualifications but without any commitments over long-term funding for the further education sector. The white paper will seek to align courses with the needs of employers, and encourage the growth of new higher-level vocational and technical qualifications sitting between school leaving...

PM warns more lives will be lost as UK records deadliest day of pandemic

Boris Johnson said ‘the light will only really begin to dawn as we get those vaccinations out’.

Scotland puts £250m into drug addiction services after death rates billed a ‘national disgrace’

Nicola Sturgeon said she was embarking on a 'national mission' to end the problem

White House says $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal based on specific needs

White House says $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal based on specific needs

China imposes sanctions on 28 Trump-era officials including Pompeo

China imposes sanctions on 28 Trump-era officials including Pompeo

Amanda Gorman: Inauguration poet studied Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr ahead of reading

The youngest inaugural poet in US history said she was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr and Britain’s former prime minister, the late Winston Churchill, as she read “The Hill We Climb”. Amanda Gorman followed in the footsteps of some of the greatest American wordsmiths, including writer and activist Maya Angelou, who delivered “On the pulse of the morning” for President Clinton in 1993, Richard Blanco who called for “One Today” in 2009 for...

Labour accuses chancellor Rishi Sunak of ‘calling coronavirus crisis wrong time and again’

Labour is turning its fire on Rishi Sunak, accusing the chancellor of calling the coronavirus crisis wrong “time and again” and doing “untold harm” to business with a stop-start approach to government support. In a speech to the London School of Economics on Thursday, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds will say that the chancellor’s approach has left the UK with “the worst of both worlds” – the worst recession of any major economy and the worst...

'No plan, no Q, nothing': QAnon followers reel as Biden inaugurated

'No plan, no Q, nothing': QAnon followers reel as Biden inaugurated

Madrid explosion: Four dead after huge blast rips through building

Four people have died after an explosion in central Madrid devastated a church-owned building in the Spanish capital, officials have said The blast, which left smoke pouring into the streets of the city’s La Latina neighbourhood on Wednesday afternoon, gutted the property on Calle de Toledo. In a tweet the Madrid emergency services confirmed at least 11 people had been injured, one seriously. The Catholic parish that owns the damaged building...

Boris Johnson pledges to end ‘illusion that a degree is the only route to success’ with skills White Paper

The Government has unveiled a long awaited 'skills for jobs' paper on post-16 education

Biden offers a message of resilience in America's 'winter of peril'

Once a dashing young senator, now a lion in winter, Joe Biden walked up the presidential lectern he could finally call his own after half a century of striving. The message that the 46th US president wanted to send a pained nation was the one that has defined his own life in the face of incalculable personal and political loss: resilience. “We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and...

Trumpism wreaked destruction in the US – and made its way into Australian political culture

There’s an obvious danger in writing any kind of obituary for the Trump presidency: it’s still too early to know the full extent of Donald Trump’s legacy. Joe Biden is this week assuming the presidency of a country that looks like it is in a state of civil war. Yet we can safely say this: Trump leaves the White House having inflicted grave political destruction upon the United States. And while we rightly focus on the damage on American...

Isolation after contact with Covid-19 case ‘could be cut to seven days without raising risk of transmission’

Self-isolation after contact with a coronavirus case could be reduced to seven days without raising the risk of onward transmission, a study has suggested. The research, which accounts for infected people’s potential viral load and the sensitivity of Covid-19 tests, estimates people who test negative after seven days of quarantine are unlikely to be infectious. Researchers say these people could potentially be released without raising the risk...

Liz Truss admits Brexit contributed to food shortages, contradicting Cabinet colleague

The international trade secretary, Liz Truss, has admitted Brexit has contributed to shortages on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland, contradicting her Cabinet colleague Brandon Lewis. Ms Truss joined Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Simon Covey, in acknowledging the UK’s departure from the EU played a part in the disruption, putting her at odds with Mr Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, who has said disruption caused by coronavirus...

Storm Christoph: Thousands of properties being evacuated due to flooding

Some 2,000 properties in Greater Manchester will be evacuated overnight due to flooding caused by Storm Christoph, the city council said. Police and firefighters were working with Manchester City Council to evacuate homes in East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden on Wednesday evening. People have also been asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin, North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside due to rising floodwaters.

Kamala Harris and extended family walk to White House together

Kamala Harris and extended family walk to White House together

Jen Psaki: Who is Joe Biden’s White House press secretary?

In November, Joe Biden named veteran Democratic spokesperson Jen Psaki as his White House press secretary, rounding out an all-woman senior communications team for his administration. Ms Psaki will be one of seven women to fill the upper ranks of Mr Biden’s communications team, and currently oversees the confirmations team for the Biden-Harris Transition. The 42-year-old graduate of the College of William and Mary previously held a number of...

Biden signs executive orders, says Trump wrote 'generous' letter

Just hours after his inauguration, President Biden signed several executive orders, including one rejoining the United States into the Paris climate accord. He also said former president Trump left him a 'generous' letter, but would not give details.

Biden inauguration concert - live: John Legend, Bruce Springsteen and more to perform at celebration show

Joe Biden is officially America’s 46th president, with a host of famous faces helping to welcome him to the White House. Inauguration Day began 11.30am ET (4.30pm GMT) with Lady Gaga’s performance of the US national anthem. This was followed by a traditional invocation, delivered by Reverend Father Leo Jeremiah O'Donovan. Jennifer Lopez then sang “This Land is Your Land”, and 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman gave a moving recitation of her poem...

'No evidence of decline' in COVID-19 rates in England's third lockdown

'No evidence of decline' in COVID-19 rates in England's third lockdown

Democrats take over Senate as Harris swears in three new senators

Democrats took control of the Senate as Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new senators: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia, and Alex Padilla of California.

Biden inauguration: 'Large step for our country'

Final Tally Of Lies: analysts say Trump told 30,000 mistruths - that’s 21 a day - during presidency

Donald Trump told more than 30,000 lies during his four years as president of the United States, analysis of his speech has suggested. The astounding figure, which roughly equates to 21 false statements per day (or 20.94 to be precise) of his tenure at the White House, comes after a tumultuous post election period in which he spent weeks wrongly alleging that the 2020 election was “stolen”, in remarks that were said to have spurred on his...

Kamala Harris deserves to be treated like a white man during her term as Vice President

Kamala Harris has made history by becoming not only the first woman to hold the office of Vice President, but also the first African American and South Asian person. These are all important details that we won’t and shouldn’t ever forget. I just want us all to leave them in our peripheral for the duration of her term. Who could forget the optimism that surrounded Barack Obama as he took up the presidency back in 2009? Like Harris, he too is...

Joe Biden says Donald Trump left him a ‘very generous’ letter in Oval Office

New president Joe Biden says that Donald Trump left him a “very generous” letter in the Oval Office. Despite breaking with tradition and not attending his successor’s inauguration, Mr Trump did decide to leave Mr Biden a letter in the historic Resolute desk. But Mr Biden, who got to work in the Oval Office hours after being sworn in, said he would not publicly share the contents of the letter until he had a chance to speak with Mr Trump. "The...

PM congratulates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has congratulated US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris following the inauguration.

Kamala Harris swears in three senators in first official act as VP as Senate switches to Democratic control

Vice president Kamala Harris has sworn in newly elected US Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, as well as her replacement, Alex Padilla of California, affirming the slimmest possible Democratic majority in the Upper Chamber of Congress. Hours after she was inaugurated alongside President Joe Biden, the vice president entered the Senate chamber to a round of applause on Wednesday afternoon. She swore into office the three senators...

Prada Cup: how to watch the America's Cup 2021 challenger selection series

The selection for the America's Cup 2021 is underway in New Zealand and you can catch all the sailing action on Kayo Sports.

Ted Cruz gets demolished for posting videos gushing over celebrities from Biden inauguration

Ted Cruz was fiercely criticised as he posted videos gushing over celebrities taking part in Joe Biden’s inauguration. The senator from Texas took to Twitter after filming Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks performing at the Capitol Building ceremony. [email protected] singing at the Biden Inauguration. Beautiful. 🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Z3BPpL4fx1 — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 20, 2021 .⁦@garthbrooks⁩ singing Amazing Grace at the Biden...

Third of kids in relative poverty by 2024 without action, warns children's tsar

Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield issues the warning to ministers in a statement

Coronavirus: Japanese hospitals struggle ahead of February vaccine rollout

Japan’s prime minister has said his government will take all necessary measures to protect the nation’s hospitals after doctors warned the healthcare system was on the brink of collapse under the strain of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Japan Medical Association’s president Toshio Nakagawa has warned the country’s medical system was at risk of failing due to the pressure of the virus - with cases and fatalities steadily rising in the East Asian...

UK researchers say lateral flow tests detect the most infectious COVID cases

UK researchers say lateral flow tests detect the most infectious COVID cases

Can the Republicans move on from Donald Trump? How ‘Stop the Steal’ supporters became the GOP mainstream

The mob rampaging through the Capitol threw the party’s factions into sharp relief

Portugal minister says UK COVID-19 variant spreading rapidly across country

Portugal minister says UK COVID-19 variant spreading rapidly across country

Inauguration Day - live: Press secretary gives first White House briefing as Biden signs executive orders

Joe Biden has gotten to working the Oval Office of the White House by signing several executive orders after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. The first order he signed was a federal mask mandate, which would require the face shield on federal property and during interstate travel. His other two executive orders involved revoking Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban and rejoining the Paris Climate Accords. Vice President...

British to face ban on entering EU under German plan to shut borders - The Times

British to face ban on entering EU under German plan to shut borders - The Times

EU leaders convene amid vaccine delays, virus variant fears

EU leaders convene amid vaccine delays, virus variant fears

Ministers under fresh pressure over PPE for NHS heroes on coronavirus frontline

EXCLUSIVE: Health leaders and the Shadow Health Secretary pressed the Government over personal protective equipment for workers

United States rejoins Paris accord as Biden signs executive order

Just hours after his inauguration, President Biden signed several executive orders, including one rejoining the United States into the Paris climate accord.

Trump never understood what made America great — and Biden’s inauguration proved that

In the moments after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, my thoughts went back to a conversation I had months before with Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar. It was September, and Donald Trump’s demagogic reelection campaign was in full swing. A not insignificant number of serious people believed he might succeed in stealing the election, or in bringing the country down with him. Omar disagreed. She believed...

Homes being evacuated amid 'danger to life' flood warnings as Storm Christoph hits UK

There are fears that Britain could see two months' worth of average rainfall in just two-and-a-half days.

CDC predicts COVID-19 death toll will reach up to 508,000 by Feb 13

A new CDC ensemble forecast projects the U.S. coronavirus death toll will be between 465,000 and 508,000 by the week ending February 13, with 22,500 to 23,300 deaths every week.

Trump extended Secret Service protection for 13 members of his family as he left office

Thirteen members of the Trump family have been handed Secret Service protection by the departing US president Donald Trump. A source told The Washington Post that Mr Trump issued a directive in his final days in office that extended security to the close family circle once he left office on Wednesday. They will receive the extra security detail for a further six months under the directive, having been in receipt of the 24-hours-a-day security...

Why J.Lo’s Spanish turn during Biden’s inauguration meant so much

Joseph Robinette Biden’s swearing in as the 46th president came when the nation needed a unifying message the most. It was also a day of firsts: one wherein flags staked on the National Mall grounds replaced the usual cheering hordes; and one during which Kamala Harris was minted as the first woman in US history, as well as the first Black person and first person of South Asian descent, to take the office of the vice presidency. It was also one...

‘Nothing wrong with being woke’ says Boris Johnson — but ‘stick up for your history’

There is “nothing wrong with being woke” but it is “important to stick up for your history,” Boris Johnson has asserted as he was asked about a description of the new US president, Joe Biden. In a rambling answer, Mr Johnson claimed he could not comment on whether Donald Trump’s successor was woke, but said:"What I know is that he's a firm believer in the transatlantic alliance and that's a great thing. "There's nothing wrong with being woke but...

Senate approves Avril Haines for intelligence chief in first Biden confirmation

Shortly after Joe Biden officially took office, the Senate voted on Wednesday to seat Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, marking both the first Senate confirmation of a nominee from the incoming administration and the first time a woman has held the top post in US intelligence. She promised during her confirmation hearing the day before to “speak truth to power.” The final vote tally was 84-10 for Ms Haines, 51, who previously...

Watch The Highlights From Joe Biden’s Inauguration

After four years of acrimony, mayhem and division under Donald Trump, America is hoping to turn the page with Joe Biden’s presidency. Here are the main takeaways from his inauguration speech in an event that looked radically different to previous inaugurations due to the coronavirus pandemic and heightened security after the storming of the Capitol on January 6th.