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According to their daughter, a couple celebrating their 81st wedding anniversary were told "it wouldn't last long." Ron and Joyce Bond, who live at Shenley Wood Retirement Village in Milton Keynes and are 102 and 100 years old respectively, are claimed to be the UK's longest-married couple. In January 1941, they married in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Eileen, their daughter, stated: "At the time of their wedding, it was predicted that they would not last long. How far did people get it wrong?" Ron, from Blaina in Blaenau Gwent, and Joyce, from Bow Brickhill in Milton Keynes, met in Bletchley and married on a day when there was three inches of snow on the ground at Newport Pagnell Register Office. "There were lines of couples because Ron's section was being transported overseas to help in the war effort," Mrs Bond explained. The two agree that it was love at first sight and that their relationship is balanced. "In our partnership, ther

Wales' restrictions on large events and businesses imposed to combat the Omicron variant will be lifted in the next two weeks as Covid cases decline. As Wales moves to alert level 0, restrictions will be lifted. Opposition parties had called for an exit strategy, with Senedd Tory leader Andrew RT Davies claiming that "Labour got it wrong" in its approach. Omicron cases are being heard "rapidly," according to First Minister Mark Drakeford, and rules can be relaxed "gradually." The Welsh government also cited the booster campaign's success in allowing it to lift restrictions, with 1.8 million people receiving an extra dose. If the number of cases remains low, a four-stage process will be implemented: Saturday: the number of people permitted to attend an outdoor event will increase from 50 to 500. Friday, 21 January: Crowds are allowed to return to sporting events, paving the way for full houses at the Rugby Six Nations in Cardiff, and there are no re

Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, is a former US paratrooper. He has been charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with last year's attack on the US Capitol. On Thursday, 11 persons were charged with the crime, including Stewart Rhodes. According to his lawyer, he was arrested at his house in Texas. This is the first time a sedition allegation has been brought in connection with the tragic riot. Over 725 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, which shook the whole world. Mr. Rhodes, a 56-year-old former US paratrooper and Yale law graduate, is charged of conspiring with others to "obstruct by force the execution of the rules governing the transfer of presidential power." The charge of sedition is described as attempting to "overthrow, put down, or destroy the government of the United States by force." Mr Rhodes is accused by the Department of Justice of conspiring with fellow Oath Keepers - a loosely-knit militia that be

The mandates for the Covid-19 vaccine have polarized Americans. President Joe Biden's rule requiring large-company workers to be vaccinated or disguised and tested weekly has been halted by the US Supreme Court. The requirement exceeded the jurisdiction of the Biden administration, according to the nation's highest court. Separately, they determined that a less stringent immunization requirement for government-funded healthcare workers might be justified. The mandates, according to the administration, will contribute in the fight against the epidemic. President Biden expressed dissatisfaction with the decision "to prohibit common-sense life-saving regulations for employees," notwithstanding his low support rating. "I call on business leaders to join others who have already stepped up - including one-third of Fortune 100 businesses - and establish vaccine obligations to protect their employees, customers, and communities," he continued. In a statement, he sai

Novak Djokovic's visa has been cancelled for the second time, and the tennis world number one will now be deported rather than defend his Australian Open title. After winning an appeal over his deportation on Monday, Djokovic appeared to be set to stay in Australia and compete in the year's first Grand Slam. However, using independent authorities in Australia's Migration Act, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has cancelled the Serbian's visa once more. In a statement, the minister said, "Today I utilized my prerogative... to cancel Mr Novak Djokovic's visa on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so." Djokovic can still file a court challenge to stay in the nation, but even if he is successful, he will miss the Australian Open, which begins on January 17. Djokovic will most likely face a three-year restriction on acquiring a new Australian visa as a result of Mr Hawke's decision. On Wednesday, the tennis sta

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