The Telegraph
If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here. For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp. New president will target tax cuts and 'Muslim ban' It is all change at the White House. Joe Biden will sweep away some of Donald Trump's most controversial policies hours after taking office as he is sworn in as America's 46th president today. Shortly after assuming power at noon (5pm GMT), Mr Biden will sign about a dozen executive orders and other presidential actions. He is expected to remove Mr Trump's so-called "Muslim ban" limiting immigration from mainly Muslim-majority countries, sign America back up to the Paris Climate Agreement and consider reversing some tax cuts. Much of Mr Biden's focus will be on tackling the pandemic and its economic effects. Read a full prediction of what we can expect from his first 100 days. Mr Biden appeared overcome by emotion as he began the journey to Washington. Early today, Mr Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of 143 people - including his ex-strategist Steve Bannon, who is facing fraud charges. Earlier, Mr Trump said in a farewell statement that America should "pray" for the new administration, hinting that he still planned to pursue political ambitions. Mr Trump, who has still not admitted election defeat, will be absent from today's inauguration - which will be very different to previous ceremonies due to security threats. Follow live. As Mary Beard writes, history tells us succession can be brutal. Public against rush to ease lockdown, say ministers The public does not back a rapid easing of lockdown, ministers believe, as they plot a cautious timetable for lifting Covid restrictions. We understand early March has been earmarked to move the first areas out of lockdown, but only into the toughest tiers - with little further easing expected by Easter. A Whitehall source said the prevailing mood was to take decisions steadily to avoid reimposing restrictions later. Remind yourself of Tier 4 rules and search for confirmed Covid case numbers by postcode. Matt has a gag about social distancing in today's cartoon. How Princess Anne became a fashion muse The Princess Royal - not prone to forays into the world of high fashion - would perhaps give short shrift to the idea of herself as a style muse. But the 70-year-old has inspired the latest collection by Italian designer Lorenzo Serafini, who praised her "effortless look", adding: "I was a fan long before The Crown." View some of Princess Anne's strongest looks. At a glance: More coronavirus headlines Exclusive | Free-for-all as councils offer jab to staff before elderly Dispatch | Sandwich, the Kent town left behind in vaccine push Border farce | Travellers arriving without negative test allowed in Rise of the vaxxie | Greek PM shows how to get vaccine-ready Travel | Britons urged to secure staycations as bookings soar Also in the news: Today's other headlines Ex-PM's verdict | Theresa May has accused Boris Johnson of surrendering Britain's "global moral leadership" in her most outspoken attack to date on her successor. The former prime minister claimed Mr Johnson had failed to live up to "our values" by threatening to break international law in Brexit negotiations and suspending commitments on foreign aid spending. Political Editor Gordon Rayner says Mrs May's intervention today is likely to be seen as a score-settling exercise. Post-Brexit | Bottle of Nando's sauce confiscated at Spanish border Storm Christoph | Army on standby amid widespread flooding fears Royal exclusive | Prince William loses second key aide in a year Meghan Markle | Father claims letter 'signalled end' of relationship Leonardo | Stolen 16th Century copy of Salvator Mundi is found Around the world: Ice man's religious dip Vladimir Putin stripped off a fur coat and crossed himself before entering the -20C waters of Lake Seliger, 240 miles north of Moscow. The Russian president's bath, in waters blessed by a priest, was part of a ceremony to mark Epiphany. View today's gallery of world pictures.