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Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, called US President Joe Biden's speech on voting rights "incoherent" and "profoundly unpresidential." Mr. McConnell remarked on the Senate floor, "I've known, liked, and personally appreciated Joe Biden for many years." "Last night, I didn't recognize the man on the podium." Mr. Biden made the statements one day after delivering a furious speech in Atlanta asking for a complete overhaul of the US electoral system. The president indicated he supported adjustments that would allow his party's proposed electoral system overhaul to pass without the opposition Republicans' approval. In order to approve most bills in the Senate, a 60 percent majority is required. Mr. Biden called the effort to approve the bill a "fight for the spirit of America," claiming that the Senate's 60-vote limit, known as the filibuster, had reduced it to "a shadow of its former self."

Ronnie Spector, the pioneering lead singer of the Ronettes, a 1960s all-girl ensemble, has died. With classics like Be My Baby, Baby I Love You, and Walking in the Rain, the pop artist rose to popularity. Her family released a statement saying she died at the age of 78 "after a brief fight with cancer." According to the statement, "Ronnie lived her life with a glint in her eye, a sassy attitude, a wicked sense of humour, and a smile on her face." "She was overflowing with thanks and affection. All who knew, heard, or saw her will remember her cheerful sound, humorous personality, and beautiful presence." Born in 1943 in Manhattan as Veronica Yvette Bennett, she rocketed to stardom aged barely 18 while performing alongside her older sister and cousin. From The Rolling Stones to The Beatles, Spector's singing style affected them all. While performing in New York bars, the multi-racial trio drew the eye of record producers with their beehive haircuts and

A lawyer for the lady who accuses the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 believes a monetary settlement will not suffice. Virginia Giuffre filed a court action against Prince Andrew in the United States, alleging that he assaulted her in 2001. He has always refuted the allegations. After Prince Andrew attempted to have the action dismissed, a court ruled that it can proceed. Ms Giuffre's lawyer, David Boies, said she wants to be vindicated. Prince Andrew's attorneys had argued that Ms Giuffre had forfeited her right to pursue the matter because of a 2009 arrangement she made with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Lewis A Kaplan, however, stated that the case could proceed, noting that the verdict did not assess the "truth or untruth" of Ms Giuffre's claim. The lawsuit against Prince Andrew, 61, is expected to go to trial later this year. Mr. Boies told the BBC's Newsnight that the decision was "an essential step" towa

Boris Johnson is facing calls from prominent Conservatives to resign as Prime Minister after admitting to attending a drinks party when the country was under lockdown. The Prime Minister expressed regret for how he handled the 2020 event in the Downing Street garden, saying he understood the public's "anger." Cabinet ministers rallied around Mr Johnson, including Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab. Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, and MPs William Wragg, Caroline Nokes, and Roger Gale all urged him to go. He said he would write to the 1922 Committee, which organizes Tory leadership elections, to express his dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister. "He is the prime minister, his government established these rules, and he must be held accountable for his conduct," he said. If 54 Conservative backbenchers write to the 1922 committee, a leadership challenge will be launched. Ministers have advised MPs to wait for the results of a probe into alleged Covid-rule

The province of Quebec's health minister said Wednesday that first-time appointments surged in the hours after the announcement, one day after the ministry declared it would financially penalize residents who remain unvaccinated. "It's reassuring!" Christian Dube, Quebec's health minister, tweeted that Tuesday's first-dose appointments were the highest in several days. The fee for people who have not been vaccinated would not apply to those who have a medical exemption, and no figures have been released, but officials have said the amount will be "substantial." While nearly 90% of eligible Quebecers have gotten at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the unvaccinated remain a burden on the province's public health system, according to the Quebec government. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a Covid-19 conference on Wednesday that he couldn't comment on whether Quebec's financial penalty for the unvaccinated was a smart pol

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