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The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted he attended a potentially rule-breaking party in his Downing Street residence in May 2020, when the country was still in a Covid-19 lockdown.
Amid mounting anger, including from his own MPs, he faced a grilling in Parliament over a gathering of dozens of people in Number 10's garden, at a time when social contact was strictly limited.
Mr Johnson apologised for any "misjudgements" and says he accepts "full responsibility" for what happened. But the opposition Labour Party is calling for him to step down.
From London, Benji Hyer reports.
IN: The law
OUT: SOC
DUR: 55 secs (with SOTs)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised for the role he played at a Number 10 Downing Street gathering on May 20th 2020.
At that time large gatherings were illegal due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mr Johnson said he believed the gathering was a 'work event'.
Answering questions during Prime Minister's Question's in the House of Commons, he said he wished 'things has happened differently' on that evening.
Leader of the Labour opposition party, Keir Starmer, called Johnson's apology 'pathetic'.
He's now demanding the Prime Minister resign.
IN: "After months of…"
OUT: "...and resign."
DUR: 40 secs
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/120121-PMQsStarmer-CJ-generic.mp3
Intro:
India's top scientific advisor has warned that everybody in the country could be infected with the Omicron variant soon.
The remarks come as one in ten are testing positive for the virus across the nation.
In large cities that number is one in five.
Still, many experts are split over booster shots, as Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.
IN: Head of the scientific advisoryIN: "The Ministry of Defense ..."
Kindergartens and primary schools in Hong Kong are temporarily suspending classes as part of government efforts to control an outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. The closures come amid tightening social-distancing restrictions, and promises of more government subsidies for local businesses.
Richard Kimber reports.
IN: The Hong Kong government
OUT: Richard Kimber, Hong Kong
DUR: 0.45
Australian Industry leaders are calling for an overhaul of the country's Covid isolation rules, to combat chronic staff shortages.
The Federal Government is holding talks with industry, to decide which sectors should qualify for relaxed isolation rules.
Shaun Bindley reports.
GENERIC: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0112iso-sb-gen.mp3
COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA - AUSTRALIA
US President Joe Biden is calling for a change in Senate rules in a bid to pass voting rights legislation.
The President says he supports ending the filibuster to allow the laws to pass with a simple majority - not the 60 elusive votes they currently require.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
IN: A senator
OUT: SOC
DUR: 1'03"
US President Joe Biden has launched a fresh effort to secure the passage of new voting rights laws in the United States Senate.
Two pieces of legislation are currently awaiting a vote there, and the President says he now favors changing Senate rules to allow the laws to pass with a simple majority - not the 60 elusive votes they currently require.
In a speech in Atlanta, the President presented the issue as fundamental to the future of American democracy.
IN: "Will we choose…."
OUT: "…Senate stand?"
DUR: 30 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0111voting-biden.mp3
But several prominent civil rights leaders stayed away from the President's speech, complaining that he should have come to the issue far earlier in his Presidency.
US officials have confirmed that flights were temporarily halted at some West Coast airports Monday.
The stoppages occurred around the same time that North Korea tested a ballistic missile.
Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.
IN: The Federal Aviation ..
The US's leading infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, has accused Republican Senator Rand Paul of attacking him for political gain.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday Mr Fauci said Mr Paul had made false claims about him that have encouraged threats on his life.
Kate Fisher reports form Washington
IN: President Biden
OUT: SOC
DUR: 48 seconds
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is getting ready to start raising interest rates, to cool the U.S. economy.
He addressed concerns about continued inflation, at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee.
Caroline Malone reports from Washington.
IN: Fed Chair
OUT: Caroline Malone, Washington
DUR: 0:35