Vladimir putin is a � mobster� whose � gangsters� killed her husband. Powerful Republican Senate leader, Mitch Mcconnell has announced he will step down later this year. He is the longest serving republican leader in the us senate, and says hell step down from the role in november of this year. The high court in Belfast Rules A Uk decision to offer immunity for crimes committed during the troubles is in breach of eu legislation. The cases brought by relatives of victims who claimed it was unconstitutional. With claims the death toll in gaza has reached nearly 30,000, new details emerge about a potential ceasefire. Good evening. The Senate Minority leader Mitch Mcconnell, a towering figure in american politics, will step down as the gop leader in november. The Kentucky Republican said he will continue to serve, but from november he will hand the reigns of the Senate Republican conference to someone from the next generation. Mcconnell turned 82 last week. Heres part of his announcement this afternoon on the senate floor. When i arrived here in 1984 at 42, i was filled with heartfelt gratitude and humility for the opportunity. But now its 2024, im now 82. As ecclesiastes tells us, to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. To serve kentucky in the senate has been the honour of my life. To lead my republican colleagues has been the highest privilege. 0ur Washington correspondent Gary Odonoghue is with us. Gary, i guess a bit of a shock. This is the end of an era . It gary, i guess a bit of a shock. This is the end of an era . Is the end of an era . It really is. When you is the end of an era . It really is. When you think is the end of an era . It really is. When you think mitch is the end of an era . It really is. When you think Mitch Mcconnell is the end of an era . It really is. When you think Mitch Mcconnell first came to this place in 1985, in the middle of Ronald Reagans term. He outlasted the whole bush dynasties, Preston Clinton and tramp as well. Youve got this whole gamut of political developments, and he has seen the Republican Party disappear from under his feet in so many ways. He came on when it was a free trade conservative internationalist, outward looking party, and now its definitely not that. In many ways, he is also falling out of favour with those controlling the party, including donald trump. That is pretty much sealed afterjanuary to six when he stood in one of the senates on the floor, and said he held donald trump morally and practically responsible for the right on capitol hill that day. He is 82, christian, he has had some health concerns. This is not entirely surprising, but the political realities are also against him and the factors, he faced the challenge last year, survived that, without however many nine or ten challenges over the last four years, he now says its time for a new generation. He now says its time for a new generation he now says its time for a new generation. One of the gent who miaht generation. One of the gent who might succeed generation. One of the gent who might succeed him, generation. One of the gent who might succeed him, gary, generation. One of the gent who might succeed him, gary, did i generation. One of the gent who | might succeed him, gary, did fall generation. One of the gent who i might succeed him, gary, did fall in with the president this year. I know there was speculation at the beginning of the week, whether Mitch Mcconnell was going to endorse tramp, given his very public position on what happened onjanuary the six. Do you think that was in his mind when he took the decision . It is possible. We see news report about the discussion going on between his team and the Tramp Campaign about his endorsement. Mitch mcconnell, if nothing else, has taken a cold, hard look at political realities. He knows tramp will be the nominee, he knows that he could light himself for all sorts of difficult attacks between now and november if he doesnt endorse donald trump, and does remain the Minority Leader until november. He has also got the question of the very public attacks that donald trump made on his wife who is a Cabinet Minister under the previous administration. They are all sorts of countervailing, currents, if you like it in terms of his decision, and has always been laser focused on the success of the Republican Party. He has always determined that nothing gets in the way of that. We will see what he decides, but it is possible, as many others have done, to go through the gymnastics that would be involved in him actually endorsing donald trump, even given what he has already said. Since endorsing donald trump, even given what he has already said. What he has already said. Since you are here we what he has already said. Since you are here we have what he has already said. Since you are here we have been what he has already said. Since you are here we have been talking what he has already said. Since you are here we have been talking on. What he has already said. Since you i are here we have been talking on the programme about the spending bill, and also the stand off over government spending. We were looking at a packed shutdown on friday, newsline hit the last few minutes, they have come to a deal . We havent not an they have come to a deal . We havent got any details they have come to a deal . We havent got any details yet. They have come to a deal . We havent got any details yet, and they have come to a deal . We havent got any details yet, and this they have come to a deal . We havent got any details yet, and this may they have come to a deal . We havent got any details yet, and this may be. Got any details yet, and this may be what is called a continuing resolution, which is a way of kicking the can down the road a little bit. Delaying a potential shutdown for a week or two while they try to agree on the detail of they try to agree on the detail of the legislative bills themselves. We will see what happens. The first deadline is friday night on midnight, at that point things being offended will be stopped, veteran affairs, agriculture, sensitive and political issues. I think it tricky for them to get legislation through before friday, the republicans have a role that you have to have 72 hours for people to read the bills before they can go through. There seems to have run out already. If we are looking at the continuing resolution, that is just an attempt to buy some more time. That does mean the government doesnt shut down, and workers continue to get paid. We down, and workers continue to get aid. ~ ,. ,. Paid. We seem to be reporting all the time. Paid. We seem to be reporting all the time gary. Paid. We seem to be reporting all the time. Gary, thank paid. We seem to be reporting all the time. Gary, thank you paid. We seem to be reporting all the time. Gary, thank you very i paid. We seem to be reporting all i the time. Gary, thank you very much for that. The time. Gary, thank you very much forthat. Bryan the time. Gary, thank you very much for that. Bryan lanza hasjoined us, he is here. I want to get your reaction on mcconnell. Im sure your former boss will want a say in it . Thank you for having me, theres a couple people who want to say in it. President travis going to have a voice. Its going to be an interesting six to eight months to see who forms a stronger relationship with former president tramp as they go into the elections of january next year. Itll be interesting to see who they get behind. Its going to be interesting, and fun to watch. Let me la interesting, and fun to watch. Let me play you what he said on the senate floor at the time of the second impeachment. This is what he said about donald trump. The second impeachment. This is what he said about donald trump. Second impeachment. This is what he said about donald trump. The mob was fed lies. Said about donald trump. The mob was fed lies they said about donald trump. The mob was fed lies. They were said about donald trump. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked said about donald trump. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by said about donald trump. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the fed lies. They were provoked by the president fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people. There president and other powerful people. There is president and other powerful people. There is no president and other powerful people. There is no question. President tramp there is no question. President tramp is there is no question. President tramp is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the responsible for provoking the events of the day responsible for provoking the events of the day. Responsible for provoking the events of the da. ,. , of the day. President tramp. Interesting of the day. President tramp. Interesting comparing of the day. President tramp. Interesting comparing that of the day. President tramp. Interesting comparing that with j of the day. President tramp. Interesting comparing that with the statements we got today. Of course, gary said he had health scares. He didnt want to connect, and i did impeachment was never meant to be the finalforum for impeachment was never meant to be the final forum for american texas, but said tramp might find himself. I do what he said then, its hard to imagine a reconciliation . You know, olitics is imagine a reconciliation . You know, politics is not imagine a reconciliation . You know, politics is not new. Imagine a reconciliation . You know, politics is not new. Candidates imagine a reconciliation . You know, politics is not new. Candidates rentl politics is not new. Candidates rent hard and aggressively against each other. I wouldnt be surprised if you see endorsements from nikki haley in the near future, like you built with Mitch Mcconnell. The overall opinion is its dangerous to supportjoe biden, regardless of what you feel about the six to january. I what you feel about the six to janua. ,. , �. January. I remember when tony blair made a statement january. I remember when tony blair made a statement when january. I remember when tony blair made a statement when he january. I remember when tony blair made a statement when he was january. I remember when tony blair| made a statement when he was going to stand down and hand the reins to gordon brown. The minute he said that, the power worked out the door. Mitch mcconnell says hes going to be around until november. How quickly is that power going to dissipate . It quickly is that power going to dissi ate . , quickly is that power going to dissipate . Quickly is that power going to dissiate . ,. ,. , quickly is that power going to dissiate . ,. ,. ,. Dissipate . It was already going, and that is why he dissipate . It was already going, and that is why he is dissipate . It was already going, and that is why he is stepping dissipate . It was already going, and that is why he is stepping down. Dissipate . It was already going, andj that is why he is stepping down. Old that is why he is stepping down. Old men who that is why he is stepping down. Old men who have wield power for decades do not men who have wield power for decades do not let men who have wield power for decades do not let go easily. Regardless how often they do not let go easily. Regardless how often they stand there in a Press Conference and say, its time for the next conference and say, its time for the next generation, im bearing up filers the next generation, im bearing up filers give the next generation, im bearing up filers. Give it a break. No they dont filers. Give it a break. No they dont they filers. Give it a break. No they dont. They go because its making it blazingiy dont. They go because its making it blazingly obvious to them that the people around for a while dont have it the people around for a while dont have it in the people around for a while dont have it in them any more. At 82, mitch have it in them any more. At 82, Mitch Mcconnell has decades of experience and good thing still to to American Public lie. I personally dont to American Public lie. I personally dont like to American Public lie. I personally dont like his politics, but has lots dont like his politics, but has lots of dont like his politics, but has lots of experience and he could use that lots of experience and he could use that. Personally, im looking forward that. Personally, im looking forward to the Time Of My Life i can sit there forward to the Time Of My Life i can sit there as forward to the Time Of My Life i can sit there as an old lady with a gin and tonic sit there as an old lady with a gin and tonic in sit there as an old lady with a gin and tonic in one hand, and heckle. Without and tonic in one hand, and heckle. Without having to actually take any responsibility for the things that are going on. Im going to sit there and say are going on. Im going to sit there and say that are going on. Im going to sit there and say that is wrong, and have fun doing and say that is wrong, and have fun doing that and say that is wrong, and have fun doing that. Net and say that is wrong, and have fun doinu that. ,. , doing that. Net is the oy of being an eightyearold. Doing that. Net is the joy of being an eightyearold. Why doing that. Net is the joy of being an eightyearold. Why would doing that. Net is the joy of being | an eightyearold. Why would you an eight year old. Why would you want to be standing on the senate floor . ,. ,. , floor . You get a heckle without havin floor . You get a heckle without having the floor . You get a heckle without having the Responsibility Floor . You get a heckle without having the responsibility and i floor . You get a Heckle Withoutl having the responsibility and the pressure having the responsibility and the pressure and stress, whether in your own Domestic Life or work. What weve own Domestic Life or work. What weve seen own Domestic Life or work. What weve seen in the past few months, a few instances where hes been giving statements where he has frozen and looks statements where he has frozen and looks like statements where he has frozen and looks like his brain has disengaged a hit looks like his brain has disengaged a bit he looks like his brain has disengaged a bit he is looks like his brain has disengaged a bit. He is plainly at 82, physically not what he was, and lots of other physically not what he was, and lots of other things going on, as well as the prevailing political things. Hes the prevailing political things. Hes got the prevailing political things. Hes got to a point and said he cant hes got to a point and said he cant i hes got to a point and said he cant. I dont want to, no thank you cant. Idont want to, no thank you very cant. I dont want to, no thank you very much cant. I dont want to, no thank you very much irn cant. I dont want to, no thank you very much. Im not having anything to do very much. Im not having anything to do with very much. Im not having anything to do with this lot ever again. And he wants to do with this lot ever again. And he wants to to do with this lot ever again. And he wants to bow out, which is fair enough he wants to bow out, which is fair enough the he wants to bow out, which is fair enough. The fact is, as you said, the power enough. The fact is, as you said, the power has gone, which is why no one named the power has gone, which is why no one named the successor as soon as possible one named the successor as soon as possible. There will be just like to have possible. There will be just like to have his possible. There will be just like to have his position, and donald trump will he have his position, and donald trump will be working and rewriting the rulesm will be working and rewriting the rules. ,. ,. , rules. You are old cynic. He is 82. I rules. You are old cynic. He is 82 i wonder rules. You are old cynic. He is 82. I wonder whether rules. You are old cynic. He is 82. I wonder whether this rules. You are old cynic. He is 82. I wonder whether this retirement puts a bit of focus on the president , because he is 81. In fact, i can tell you, itsjust flashed in the last few minutes, the White House Doctor is happy Withjoe Biden s annual checkup. So he is in fine fettle, with Mitch Mcconnell may be not so much. Does it put focus on the president , maybe he needs to go off and retire . I think the focus is needs to go off and retire . I think the focus is on needs to go off and retire . I think the focus is on the needs to go off and retire . I think the focus is on the president. Needs to go off and retire . I think the focus is on the president. At i the focus is on the president. At the focus is on the president. At the end of the day, i tell everybody, to this day, if Warren Buffett was sat across from the table at me at 92 rolled, i would hear him. He has that Confidence Interacting with him. Withjoe biden you dont have that confidence. Its joe biden more than anyone else, highlighting the fact he has a massive cognitive decline. Mitch mcconnell retiring, its turning the page on what was once a historic history. Page on what was once a historic histo. �. ,. History. Im now sitting at the telly shouting, history. Im now sitting at the telly shouting, and history. Im now sitting at the telly shouting, and im history. Im now sitting at the telly shouting, and im in history. Im now sitting at the telly shouting, and im in my| history. Im now sitting at the telly shouting, and im in my 50s. I reserve the right to do that a lot. The french rescus services have picked up 180 refugees from small boats in the the channel today. One person was unconcious tw