News

Inauguration Day schedule: Full list of timings by hour

Joe Biden’s inauguration as the 46th president of the United States will take place on Wednesday, 20 January. Amid the ongoing pandemic and following the insurrection at the US Capitol, this year's celebrations will look starkly different from previous inaugurations. The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) has announced a flurry of events set to be broadcast on Inauguration Day that Americans can watch virtually after urging people to refrain...

2021-01-19T12:43:30Z

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...

2021-01-20T23:58:17Z

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

2021-01-20T21:00:41Z

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

2021-01-21T00:40:18Z

Call The Midwife 'running out' of storylines due to invention of vaccinations

EXCLUSIVE: The next, tenth season will be set in 1966 when many diseases had been significantly eradicated by vaccination programmes

2021-01-20T20:08:35Z

'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

2021-01-21T00:07:23Z

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...

2021-01-21T00:23:23Z

Can Trump run again in 2024 election?

As former president Donald Trump departed the White House, he commented that he would “be back in some form” prompting questions over whether the divisive Republican could run for office again in 2024. Mr Trump failed to win his re-election bid against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, and was subsequently impeached for a historic second time - but despite these factors, some of his supporters believe he could run again in future. The question is...

2021-01-20T17:16:15Z

‘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...

2021-01-21T00:08:24Z

Taiwan-Biden ties off to strong start with invite for top diplomat

Taiwan-Biden ties off to strong start with invite for top diplomat

2021-01-21T01:45:19Z

Joe Biden’s children: Who are Hunter, Ashley, Beau and Naomi Biden?

President-elect Joe Biden has fathered four children from two marriages — though tragically only two are still alive today. Mr Biden had three children with his first wife, Neilia Biden, whom he married in 1966. In order of birth, they were Joseph Robinette III, known as Beau; Robert Hunter; and Naomi Christina, known as Amy. On 18 December 1972 Neilia was driving with the three children to buy a Christmas tree when their car was hit by a...

2021-01-20T11:31:11Z

Biden news - live: Press secretary gives first White House briefing as president 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...

2021-01-20T23:47:01Z

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman reveals secret Hamilton references in Twitter exchange with Lin-Manuel Miranda

Los Angeles poet Amanda Gorman earned high praise from famed Hamilton actor Lin-Manuel Miranda after her historic reading at the swearing-in of President Joe Biden. “YES @TheAmandaGorman!!! -LMM,” the Hamilton creator tweeted to the inaugural poet. Gorman responded, "Thx @Lin_Manuel! Did you catch the 2 @HamiltonMusical references in the inaugural poem? I couldn’t help myself!" Thx @Lin_Manuel ! Did you catch the 2 @HamiltonMusical references in...

2021-01-20T22:07:05Z

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.

2021-01-21T00:25:12Z

Biden’s inner circle: Who’s who of those seated close to President Biden at inauguration?

Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, telling Americans that “democracy has prevailed” after the tumultuous Trump era drew to a close. Mr Biden took the oath at the US Capitol which two weeks earlier had been the scene of a deadly insurrection by a pro-Trump mob. The inauguration of President Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, was carried out within a ring of steel in DC due to increased concerns about the...

2021-01-21T01:16:39Z

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.

2021-01-20T09:23:59Z

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...

2021-01-21T00:25:50Z

Child poverty ‘set to rise’ during this Parliament unless urgent action is taken, says Children’s Commissioner

Anne Longfield said the Covid crisis is creating a child poverty timebomb that could see millions more children falling into poverty without help

2021-01-21T00:02:09Z

Kamala Harris: Who’s who in the Vice President’s family?

It was a well-rehearsed line, but it was one which worked. Kamala Harris, accepting the nomination by Joe Biden to be his running mate, in August told the world a little about her family. “I've had a lot of titles in my career,” the California senator said. "And certainly, vice president will be great. But 'momala' will always be the one that means the most." Follow Biden Inauguration Day 2021 – live: Top Republicans join Bidens in church The...

2020-12-23T01:19:35Z

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...

2021-01-20T23:38:24Z

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...

2021-01-21T00:31:28Z

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

2021-01-21T00:32:08Z

World leaders send their congratulations to President Biden

Several world leaders on Wednesday sent their congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, with some also getting in a final jab at former President Donald Trump. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Biden represented "victory of democracy over the ultra-right. Five years ago, we thought Trump was a bad joke, but five years later we realized he jeopardized nothing less than the world's most powerful democracy."...

2021-01-21T00:55:23Z

Nepal to turn Everest trash into art to highlight mountain’s garbage blight

Nepal to turn Everest trash into art to highlight mountain’s garbage blight

2021-01-21T01:05:12Z

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’.

2021-01-21T00:13:14Z

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

2021-01-21T00:45:17Z

The US far-right groups bolstered by Donald Trump’s presidency that pose a threat

White nationalist groups in the US increased 55 per cent since 2017, says the Southern Poverty Law Centre

2021-01-21T01:32:06Z

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

2021-01-21T00:46:52Z

Northern issues ‘do not travel’ alert for many routes in north-west England

Customers have been advised not to travel before 12pm on Thursday due to widespread flooding.

2021-01-21T01:27:45Z

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.

2021-01-20T23:37:01Z

Florida residents camp out to buy guns fearing Biden crackdown

Florida residents camped out outside gun stores as the Biden administration took office, fearing that the new president would lead a crackdown on firearms. "I think we all believe Biden is going to take it away from us too," David Godkin, who was lined up outside of Academy Sports + Outdoors in Lake Mary, Florida, on Monday, told Fox 35 Orlando. Customers also mentioned having a hard time finding guns and ammo around the area. The owners of...

2021-01-21T01:46:29Z

Biden inauguration concert - live: Bruce Springsteen opens celebration show hosted by Tom Hanks

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...

2021-01-20T16:16:17Z

EU leaders convene amid vaccine delays, virus variant fears

EU leaders convene amid vaccine delays, virus variant fears

2021-01-21T00:45:15Z

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...

2021-01-21T00:46:26Z

Biden signs federal mask mandate, repeals Muslim ban, and rejoins Paris climate agreement

Joe Biden has signed his first slate of executive actions as president, erasing core aspects of Donald Trump’s legacy on the coronavirus pandemic, immigration, climate change, and more with the simple stroke of a pen. Following an afternoon of ceremonies that included a virtual parade through Washington DC, and the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, the new administration immediately...

2021-01-20T22:46:30Z

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

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

2021-01-21T00:07:20Z

Joe Biden lookalike on life changing for the better

Kevin Dalton's life has changed since Joe Biden became US President because he looks a lot like him. The west London based Brooklynite talks to MailOnline about what the next four years holds and how it feels to see Biden as the next US leader.

2021-01-21T01:28:03Z

Kamala Harris and extended family walk to White House together

Kamala Harris and extended family walk to White House together

2021-01-21T00:12:13Z

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...

2021-01-20T23:40:59Z

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

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

2021-01-21T00:50:24Z

China sees rise in new COVID-19 cases despite curbs

China sees rise in new COVID-19 cases despite curbs

2021-01-21T01:25:18Z

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...

2021-01-20T22:31:25Z

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...

2021-01-21T00:24:15Z

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.

2021-01-20T23:58:04Z

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...

2021-01-21T00:03:11Z

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...

2021-01-20T22:31:22Z

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...

2020-11-29T22:46:03Z

Anas Mezenner: Two arrested over fatal stabbing of 17-year-old boy near Turnpike Lane station

Two teenagers have been arrested over the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in north London. The 16-year-old boys are suspected of murdering Anas Mezenner at Duckett’s Green on Tuesday night, and detectives are appealing for witnesses. Police and paramedics were called to the scene at the West Green Road, near Turnpike Lane station, just after 9pm. The victim was taken to hospital suffering from a stab wound but was pronounced dead in the...

2021-01-21T00:54:14Z

Biden administration holds 1st press briefing

The Biden administration held its first press briefing on Wednesday evening, with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki promising that every weekday, there will be a news conference. "There are a number of ways to combat misinformation," Psaki said. "One of them is accurate information and truth and data and sharing information, even when it is hard to hear." She added that her daily briefings will include COVID-19 updates from health officials....

2021-01-21T00:55:24Z

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.

2021-01-20T22:44:00Z