DONALD Trump pledged to put “America first” and vowed to “rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our people” as he was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017.

The new president took the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol building as his family and outgoing president Barack Obama watched.

A Bible between them, Mr Trump was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts just before noon local time (5pm), before the two men shook hands.

Delivering his inaugural address, President Trump said: “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs.”

He added: “America will start winning again, winning like never before.”

Promising to “make America great again”, President Trump said: “From this day forward it is going to be only America first, America first.”

President Trump’s address broke with tradition as he sought to hammer home political points against globalisation and in favour of “American first” isolationism. Imploring the country to come together, he said that a united America “is totally unstoppable”.

The new president said: “We are one nation, and their pain is our pain, their dreams are our dreams and their success will be our success.

“We share one heart, one home and one glorious destiny.”

And as rain began to fall on the new president’s shoulders, he added: “America will start winning again, winning like never before.

“We will bring back our jobs, we will bring back our borders, we will bring back our wealth and we will bring back our dreams.

President Trump said the US would “seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world” but with the understanding that it is the right of all countries to “put their own interests first.”

Family and friends of tragic Katie Rough marked what would have been her eighth birthday with the release of 200 balloons into the skies above York, on January 17, 2017.

A week after the youngster died after being found with serious injuries, hundreds of families let off colourful mementos from a playing field near her school, Westfield Primary, and sang Happy Birthday.

A statement handed out by the family read: “The family wish to let everyone know that we are grateful to the community for coming together to celebrate Katie’s birthday. They are also thankful for all the donations that have been made of the kind thoughts they have received over the last week.”

Football bosses spoke of their anger and disbelief after a mass brawl in which players and fans threw punches and launched flying kung-fu kicks erupted during an amateur cup match in January 2017.

Witton Park Rose and Crown, of County Durham, were 3-0 up against Liverpool-based team Black Bull in the All England Cup when fighting broke out at Willington FC’s ground, as supporters looked on in horror.

The incident follows a number of violence-marred football fixtures in the North East and any players who were involved in the fighting could face lengthy bans from the FA.

Witnesses said they were stunned by the scenes which appeared to have been triggered when the ball went out of play in the 68th minute.

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