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A judge decides that preferential treatment was offered, but given the rush for PPE in the early days of the pandemic, PestFix and Ayanda Capital were likely to get contracts regardless. The use of a so-called VIP lane by the government to give PPE contracts to two businesses during the first COVID wave was illegal, according to the High Court. The challenge was brought by campaign groups the Good Law Project and EveryDoctor, who claimed that the bid procedure gave people with political ties unfair preferential treatment. They sued over contracts worth more than £340 million issued to pest control service PestFix in 2020, as well as a deal for roughly £252 million to hedge fund Ayanda Capital. The ruling adds to the pressure on Boris Johnson and his cabinet, which is dealing with a slew of sleaze claims, with Labour alleging a "pay for access" mentality within the Conservative Party. Mr Johnson admitted at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons that he attended a Downi

Reid, a three-decade member of the Nevada Senate, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2018. He died on December 28th, at the age of 82. Reid was Nevada's longest-serving senator, and as majority leader from 2007 to 2015, he ruled over the upper house. As he battled his way from Nevada's lieutenant governor's office to the apex of the US Senate, he earned a reputation for soft-spoken brutality. The practice of paying honor to notable Americans at the Capitol Rotunda began in 1852. According to the Office of the Historian, just 35 people have been given the distinction of lying in state in the last 169 years.

Even though he had tested positive for COVID the day before, the world number one acknowledged to being questioned in person by a journalist from a French magazine in December. Novak Djokovic claims his agent made a mistake on his Australia admission paperwork while submitting travel details in the days leading up to his arrival. He stated his "staff has sent further information to the Australian Government to clarify this problem" in an Instagram post. Even though he had tested positive for COVID the day before, he admitted to being questioned in person by a journalist from a French magazine in December. It comes as images surface of Djokovic practicing on the tennis court at Melbourne Park, the site of the Australian Open, which begins on January 17 and for which Djokovic has been named the number one seed. In preparation for the Australian Open, Djokovic takes a break during practice. The world number one wrote in his article that he wanted to address the "continued m

As part of his effort to revamp the country's election procedures, US President Joe Biden has called for a historic change to Senate rules. He stated he backed adjustments that would allow his voting reforms to pass without the cooperation of opposition Republicans in an impassioned speech. His initiatives are being hampered by reservations from two senators in his own party, and no Republicans have backed them. In order to approve most bills in the Senate, a 60 percent majority is required. And, with the upper body of Congress split 50-50 between the two parties, Mr Biden's comprehensive election legislation is nearly certain to fail unless that provision is changed. Analysts think such a shift is unlikely since it would require the approval of every Democrat in the Senate, as well as the vice president's tie-breaking vote. Last year, the lower house, the House of Representatives, enacted the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The former

Boris Johnson will appear before MPs at Prime Minister's Questions later today, amid demands that he reveal whether he attended a drinks reception in the Downing Street garden when the country was under lockdown. It will be the Prime Minister's first public appearance since it was revealed that 100 employees had been invited to the May 2020 meeting. Mr Johnson has thus far refused to acknowledge whether or not he was present. A number of Conservative MPs, however, have stated that this position is untenable. People were asked to "bring your own wine" and "enjoy the great weather," according to the invitation. The prime minister and his wife Carrie were among the about 30 people who attended the drinks, according to witnesses. ITV reported a leaked email from Mr Johnson's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, on Monday, inviting colleagues to "socially distanced beverages in the No 10 garden" on May 20, 2020, when England's lockdown

After officials from both nations gathered in Geneva for high-stakes negotiations, Russia told the US that it has no plans to invade Ukraine. Both sides agreed to continue efforts to decrease tensions following a seven-hour meeting on Monday. Following the talks, however, there was little hint of a substantial breakthrough. Around 100,000 Russian troops are thought to be near the Ukrainian border, raising concerns of an assault and eliciting warnings from the West. If Russia attacks Ukraine, the US has stated that sanctions will be imposed. Meanwhile, Russia has urged the United States not to "underestimate the risks" of its confrontation with the West. Following the discussion, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters, "We conveyed to our colleagues that we have no plans, no ambitions to attack Ukraine." He stated that the Russians had informed their American counterparts that "all steps for combat training of soldiers and forces are carri

According to his lawyer, millionaire convicted murderer Robert Durst died in prison at the age of 78. Durst died in a California prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his acquaintance Susan Berman in September. He assassinated her in order to prevent her from speaking to the authorities about his wife's abduction. He is suspected of killing two more people, according to police. In an HBO criminal documentary series about himself, the US real estate heir turned fugitive unintentionally confessed. Durst's lawyer, Chip Lewis, confirmed that he died in the hands of the California Department of Corrections at the San Joaquin General Hospital. He claimed that he died of "natural causes" and that he had been suffering from a variety of medical problems. Durst was sentenced to life in prison in October for the murder of Berman, a long-time confidante and publicist, in 2000. Due to the Covid epidemic, his trial had been postponed for more than a year. According to his

A guy from the United States has become the world's first person to receive a heart transplant from a genetically engineered pig. Doctors say David Bennett is doing well three days after the seven-hour experimental treatment in Baltimore. Mr Bennett's life was thought to be on the verge of being saved by the transplant, albeit it is unclear how long he will live. Mr Bennet, 57, revealed a day before the surgery, "It was either die or do this transplant." "I know it's a long shot, but it's my final resort." The US medical regulator granted a special permit to doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center to carry out the treatment on the grounds that Mr Bennett would have died otherwise. The transplant is the conclusion of years of research for the medical team who performed it, and it has the potential to impact lives all across the world. According to a press statement from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, surgeon Bartley P. Gri

During the first lockdown, it is understood that up to 100 people were invited to a "bring-your-own-booze" drinks gathering in the Downing Street garden. According to witnesses, the PM and his wife attended the gathering on May 20, 2020. Boris Johnson, on the other hand, has refused to acknowledge whether he was present. The Metropolitan Police said it had contacted the government in response to "widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches" of Covid guidelines. ITV News obtained an email in which people were invited to "socially distanced refreshments in the No 10 garden this evening." It was sent when the lockdown was still in effect. The laws in England were finally modified 12 days later, on June 1, allowing groups of up to six people to assemble outside. If the prime minister was proved to have attended, Labour claimed he would face "severe questions." Downing Street, however, declined to comment, stating that the gathering, along with

As a clearer picture of what caused New York City's deadliest fire in three decades emerged Monday, hospitals worked to save several people who were gravely injured in a Bronx apartment building fire. Authorities say the fire started at 11 a.m. on Sunday, and dozens of people were taken to the hospital. Thirteen persons have been admitted to hospitals in critical condition. As of Monday morning, their whereabouts were unknown. "Today's fire was a sad tragedy, and our prayers are with the families of those who were touched," Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx said in a statement on Sunday, adding that the blaze had brought in 19 patients. The city-run medical clinic said Monday two of its patients passed on and five are in not kidding condition. The rest were released, as per a medical clinic representative. New York City Mayor Eric Adams adjusted the loss of life during a Monday public interview, saying the clinical inspector's office affirmed 17 individuals passe