The US chief justice was sworn in yesterday to preside over President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, then immediately swore in the entire Senate body in turn with an oath to ensure "impartial justice" as jurors for only the third such proceeding in American history.
Russia's ruling party has unanimously backed President Vladimir Putin's surprise choice for prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin - a man with nearly no political profile.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed sweeping changes to the country's political system that would shift powers away from the presidency in favour of parliament and the prime minister.
A close associate of Donald Trump's personal lawyer says he delivered an ultimatum to the incoming president of Ukraine that no senior US officials would attend his inauguration and all American aid to the war-torn country would be withheld if an investigation into Joe Biden wasn't announced.
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the Democrats' two leading liberal presidential candidates, accused each other of calling the other a "liar" in an exchange caught on a CNN microphone after the end of Tuesday's presidential debate.
The main tourism body in Australia has estimated the country's bushfire crisis has cost the industry A$1bn (€619m) and called for urgent help from the government to lure back visitors.
Prince Harry laughed, joked and hugged his way through his first official public engagement since he and his wife quit as senior royals, triggering a major crisis for the British monarchy.
