Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to take oath today

New Delhi: US President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the 46th President and 49th Vice-President of the United States today on January 20. Ms Harris will make history as America's first woman, first Black and first person with South Asian roots to take the office of the Vice President when she will be sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

An emotional President-elect Joe Biden flew to Washington Tuesday on the eve of his inauguration from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

Tears rolled down Mr Biden's cheeks at a farewell ceremony in his hometown, where he paid tribute to his late son and rising politician Beau, before catching a plane to the capital.

Biden said that 12 years ago Barack Obama, a Black man, greeted him at the train platform before he became his Vice President, and now he departs to "meet a Black woman of South Asian descent" to become President and Vice President.

Joe Biden's predecessor Mr Trump, who has not appeared in public for a week, broke days of silence with a videoed farewell address which the White House said would be released later in the day.

According to excerpts, Mr Trump for the first time asked Americans to "pray" for the success of the incoming Biden administration -- surprisingly a change of tune from weeks spent persuading his huge number of Republican followers that the Democrat cheated in their election battle.

Donald Trump has yet to personally congratulate Mr Biden on his win or invite him for the customary cup of tea in the Oval Office.