Impeachment trial – live: Trump poured ‘kerosene on the flames’ as Pence family fled for lives, Democrats say

While Donald Trump's impeachment trial rumbled on Joe Biden made his first visit to the Pentagon as president, alongside vice-president Kamala Harris.

During his trip Mr Biden announced plans for a review of national security strategy on China as part of his push to recalibrate the U.S. approach with Beijing.

Defense Department officials described the review as a "sprint" effort that would weigh U.S. intelligence, troops levels in the region, defense alliances with China and more.

Mr Biden said the task force would make recommendations to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters."

He is determined to depart from President Donald Trump's approach to China — a relationship that placed economic and trade concerns above all else and then hit a wall after the coronavirus pandemic.

Senators yesterday witnessed disturbing footage of officers being attacked and beaten by a mob that stormed the Capitol on 6 January.

“The crowd is using munitions against us," an officer said in an audio clip said as the mob overpowered security officers. “They have bear spray in the crowd. Bear spray in the crowd”.

Shweta Sharma reports

Donald Trump's policies had a "devastating impact" on "every aspect of US health", a new study has found.

The report, published in The Lancet, found that 461,000 fewer Americans would have died in 2018 alone and the Covid-19 death toll would have been cut by 40 per cent if the US’s average life expectancy were aligned with that of other G7 nations.

Andrew Naughtie has all the details.

Mr Biden on Wednesday spoke to Chinese president Xi Jinping for the time since taking office, with the leaders discussing a range of issues including Beijing's human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

In the first direct conversation between the leaders of the two countries since March last year, Mr Biden touched upon potential areas of cooperation such as the coronavirus pandemic, preventing weapons proliferation and climate change, writes The Independent's Shweta Sharma

Prosecutors in Georgia have launched an investigation into Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the presidential election there. 

The investigation in Fulton County relates to a phone call made by the former president to the secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, allegedly pressuring him to help overturn the results based on unfounded voter fraud claims.

District Attorney Fani Willis has informed state officials including Mr Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp to preserve “all records potentially related to the administration” of the state’s 3 November election.

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Ivanka and Donald Trump, Jr, won’t be able to count on an endorsement from their cousin Mary Trump. Ms Trump, the president’s niece, blasted her relations in an interview with Sirius XM Radio’s Dean Obeidallah on Tuesday.

“I think it’s completely over and they have their father to thank for that,” she said. “The insurrection was a bridge too far.”

Josh Marcus reports.

An infamous Texas realtor who took a private jet to the pro-Trump riots on the US Capitol has become the latest person charged in the attack to turn their back on Donald Trump, saying she “regrets everything.”

Jenna Ryan, who made headlines last month for her alleged participation in the riot on 6 January, has admitted that she believes the former president lied to her about the 2020 election being stolen.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Ms Ryan admitted regret for her previous beliefs after being abandoned by people she considered “fellow patriots” saying she feels betrayed.

“I bought into a lie, and the lie is the lie, and it’s embarrassing,” she told The Post. “I regret everything.”

Louise Hall reports.

Over a hundred Republican members are planning to break away and form a third party, reportedly upset with Donald Trump’s influence in the GOP. 

The members think the party failed in standing up to Mr Trump and taking a stand against his attempts to damage democracy. 

A zoom call held among 120 members last Friday discussed the centre-right ideology of the party and the idea of supporting ideas that have been “trashed by Trump.”

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A former contestant on The Apprentice who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault has asked a court to let her move forward with a lawsuit against the ex-president.

Summer Zervos claims that Mr Trump kissed her against her will at Trump Tower in New York in 2007 and later allegedly groped her in a California hotel.

With Mr Trump having left office on 20 January, Ms Zervos wants her lawsuit to resume, and has asked for an earlier constitutional appeal made by Mr Trump to be dismissed.

"Defendant now is no longer President. As a result, Defendant's appeal is moot," said Ms Zervos's lawyer Beth Wilkinson in court papers filed with the New York Court of Appeals.

Graeme Massie reports.