List of All Articles with Tag 'politics'

By Mohamed Junayd MALE The Maldives Supreme Court confirmed on Sunday that jailed former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul

Rishi Sunak seemingly confirmed he's a Swiftie after a woman claimed he turned up to a Taylor Swift-themed SoulCycle class in LA. The prime minister is currently on holiday with his family in California, where he's been snapped at Santa Monica Pier and Disneyland and has since been spotted at an early morning spin class. In the viral TikTok, Hannah Harmelin (@hannahharmelin) described how she had "the biggest heart attack of [her] life," when she saw security "everywhere" inside the studio. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter "So I walk into my Taylor Swift-themed 7 am SoulCycle class in Santa Monica, and there's Secret Service everywhere in the studio, they're lined up on the sidewalk, they're inside, they're in every corner," she explained. "They're like, standing there with their earpieces, and they're all serious and there's just security everywhere. "I'm like, 'What is going on?'" Harmelin thought all of the security may have been for Swift herself, after all she is currently in LA with her Eras Tour. "She's performing in LA, celebrities do this all the time," the TikToker noted. @hannahharmelin Soulcycle in LA be like #taylorswift #taylorswiftsoulcycle #LA #erastour #soulcycle #celebrities #omg #lol #fyp "So we get in, and I'm like trying to look around but trying to play it cool, and the security guard comes into the class, there's actually like three of them standing in all the corners, and they stand there like all serious the whole entire class. "And the teachers usually like turn on and off the lights, in this class she just like kept the lights off, it was very private. "And of course you've heard of like Justin Bieber coming in and singing a song and like Beyoncé and Jay-Z like riding class. "So I'm freaking out the whole time. "So the class ends, and I'm looking around trying to see where she is. "Turns out it was the prime minister of the UK - apparently he's a Swiftie." Since sharing the random encounter, Harmelin's video has received 1.2m views, 152,000 likes and thousands of comments from people who were surprised to find out Sunak appears to be a Swiftie. One person said: "Rishi Sunak is a Swiftie? What is he doing in LA" "Today I learned Rishi Sunak is a soul cycle girlie," another person wrote. Someone else added: "Meanwhile back home the UK is absolutely falling apart, nice." "What this is so random," a fourth person commented. Sunak isn't the first Swiftie prime minister, as his predecessor Liz Truss expressed her love for Swift's music. Meanwhile, the prime minister's wife Akshata Murty attended a SoulCycle spin class with US first lady Jill Biden the day after the King's coronation back in May. A Number 10 spokesman told the PA news agency they will not be providing a running commentary on the Prime Minister’s holiday. indy100 has contacted Downing Street for comment. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Kentucky Republicans are seeking to tie Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to President Joe Biden as they work to take back the governor's mansion in November, a strategy that state Democrats have pushed back on with a focus on local issues.

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at Mike Pence, his former vice president and GOP presidential primary opponent, calling him "delusional" and "not a very good person."

Former vice president and 2024 candidate Mike Pence is capitalising on Donald Trump’s recent federal indictment by drawing positive attention to his own campaign with joking merchandise and snapping back at hecklers. While on the campaign trail in New Hampshire this past week, Mr Pence was confronted by a group of Mr Trump’s supporters who called him a “sellout” and “traitor” for refusing to falsely and unlawfully certify the 2020 election results in Mr Trump’s favor. “Why didn’t you uphold the Constitution?” one protester shouted at Mr Pence on Friday. Mr Pence notoriously refused to engage in Mr Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election which ultimately made him a target during the Capitol riots. The ex-vice president calmly turned to the group of Trump supporters and responded, “I upheld the constitution. Read it.” As Mr Pence pursues the White House, he has used Mr Trump’s attacks and actions in the weeks leading up to the insurrection to make himself appear to be a more honest and reliable presidential candidate. So much so, Mr Pence has even begun selling merchandise that directly quotes Mr Trump calling him “too honest” from the most recent federal indictment against the ex-president. The indictment, which was brought forth against Mr Trump on Tuesday, alleges that on 1 January 2021 Mr Trump tried to bully Mr Pence into joining his efforts to overturn the election. After Mr Pence refused to do so on the basis of it being improper Mr Trump allegedly told Mr Pence “You’re too honest.” Now, on Mr Pence’s campaign website, supporters can purchase hats and T-shirts with the phrase “Too honest”. The ex-vice president has pitched himself to Republican voters as a true conservative who can produce a more stable administration than Mr Trump. Though Mr Pence and Mr Trump worked closely together during the four years they were in office, Mr Pence has distanced himself from the ex-president. But the former vice president has seemingly had difficulty picking up traction in his campaign as his name is forever tied to Mr Trump and January 6th. Mr Pence has yet to qualify for the first Republican National Committee debate set to occur later this month – mainly due to a lack of fundraising. During his speech on Friday, Mr Pence tried to find common ground with protestors saying, “I’ll tell you there is a lot of passion out there.” “But I just – I reject your suggestion that that passion is translated into the violence and vandalism of that day,” he added. Read More Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election: The federal investigation, explained Ron DeSantis says Trump’s claims of stolen 2020 election weren’t ‘true’

Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell entered the Graves County Republican Party Breakfast on Saturday to a standing ovation and applause, but voters expressed some concern about how his health will affect his ability to continue serving in the Senate.

A federal judge on Friday demanded an explanation from Rudy Giuliani as to why he conceded in court that he made false and defamatory statements about two Georgia election workers after the 2020 election but hasn't forfeited their lawsuit against him.

The 2024 presidential election is on the horizon, but we just can't seem to leave 2020 behind. Former President Donald Trump was indicted and arraigned this week on charges related to efforts to overturn that electoral outcome. At the same time, primary polls indicate that Trump and President Joe Biden are by far the most likely to represent their parties once more in next year's general election.

Prosecutors in the Department of Justice asked the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s most recent federal indictment for a protective order after the ex-president issued a seemingly threatening statement on Truth Social. Mr Trump was indicted and arraigned this past week on four federal charges stemming from a DoJ investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 attack on the Capitol. The day after Mr Trump’s arraignment he took to his social media platform where he seemingly threatened revenge on those pursuing him. “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” the ex-president wrote. Hours after his post, federal prosecutors asked District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue an order that would limit what discovery evidence Mr Trump and his legal can share publicly, citing Mr Trump’s love for ranting on social media. The request included a screenshot of Mr Trump’s post. “All the proposed order seeks to prevent is the improper dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public,” federal prosecutors wrote in the protective order request. "Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him,” it continued. Mr Trump has continuously attacked prosecutors, judges, witnesses and more involved in his many legal battles to maintain his innocence and discredit their arguments. Before the indictment against the ex-president was made public on Tuesday, 1 August, Mr Trump used Truth Social to inform his followers he expected to be federally indicted at 5pm and called the prosecutor, Jack Smith, “deranged”. The protective order would limit what Mr Trump and his attorneys could publicly say in order to protect the integrity of the case. Mr Trump’s campaign issued a statement regarding the request for the protective order saying, “The Truth post cited is the definition of political speech, and was in response to the RINO, China-loving, dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs, like the ones funded by the Koch brothers and the Club for No Growth.” Mr Trump’s attorneys have publicly used the First Amendment as a defence against the indictment which charges Mr Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy against rights and obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct, an official proceeding. They have argued that the statements Mr Trump issued claiming there was election fraud and he actually won the 2020 election were only “political speech” and he had a right to say them. The indictment clearly mentions that while Mr Trump had the right to say what he wanted he unlawfully took steps to try and change election results in his favour. Read More Trump news - live: Trump campaign tries to walk back Truth Social threat after DoJ seeks protective order Will Donald Trump go to prison? Trump strikes threatening tone after arraignment: ‘ IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!’ Federal judge wants Giuliani to clarify ‘incongruous’ and ‘puzzling’ court filing in Georgia defamation case Justice Department faces biggest test in its history with election conspiracy case against Trump

Former President Donald Trump, fresh off his third appearance in court as a criminal defendant, delivered a speech full of defiance and bluster on Friday night, insulting prosecutors and declaring that the charges he faces only help his 2024 presidential campaign. “Any time they file an indictment, we go way up in the polls," Trump said at a Republican Party dinner in Alabama. "We need one more indictment to close out this election. One more indictment, and this election is closed out. Nobody has even a chance.” Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to crimes related to his efforts to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss. Although it's his third criminal indictment this year, this case is the most serious, with the federal government he once ran charging him with orchestrating a scheme to block the peaceful transfer of power. But Trump was characteristically unapologetic as he took the stage Friday night to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” flashing a thumbs-up at the crowd, raising his fist and taking in a standing ovation of nearly three minutes. “We’re gonna be here for a little while,” he joked, asking the crowd to take a seat. The latest set of charges focuses on the two months between his November 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden and the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has wedded his 2024 presidential campaign to his legal defense and his false claims of 2020 election fraud. In a sign of that defiance, his campaign released an online ad Friday attacking Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation that resulted in Trump’s latest charges and a separate case where he’s charged with mishandling classified documents. The ad, which is expected to start airing on television next week, also attacks Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has charged Trump in a hush money case, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is believed to be close to filing charges in her investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. A Trump aide said the ad will start airing Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C., New York, Atlanta and on national cable. The ad was also shown to the crowd at the Alabama dinner Friday night. Trump has continued to receive endorsements from GOP elected officials throughout the investigations and criminal cases, including on Friday from all six of the state's Republican U.S. House members. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who is waging an unprecedented campaign to try to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions, introduced Trump at the dinner on Friday night. “He’s had a tough week. We need to stand behind him," Tuberville said. “He needs encouragement. They’re after him.” Repeating Trump's frequent refrain, he added, "They’re after you.” Among the opening acts of the dinner were Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips, who produced the movie “2000 Mules,” which made various debunked claims about mail ballots, drop boxes and ballot collection in the 2020 presidential election. Trump praised the pair in his remarks and said: “Get ready. Get those votes ready. Just get them ready. Keep those tapes handy because you're going to need them." The crowd of 2,700 began arriving several hours early for the dinner, a $250-per-ticket fundraiser for the Alabama Republican Party. “They are excited,” Alabama Republican Party Chair John Wahl said. “There is so much passion from Trump supporters and voters across the state." Trump’s mounting legal troubles do not seem to be dampening his support in the Deep South state that is among more than a dozen that will hold primary contests on Super Tuesday. The March 5 slate of elections is increasingly seen as one of the last chances for any other GOP presidential candidate to try to make inroads in Trump’s front-runner status. Trump’s closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has been making a play for Super Tuesday states. In Alabama, though, one gauge of interest doesn’t bode well for the governor: The state GOP sold about 1,000 fewer tickets for a similar dinner in March when DeSantis spoke. Robin Rowan, the owner of a financial company, wore a button and sash with Trump’s image and “NOT GUILTY” emblazoned in sequins as she waited Friday to hear Trump speak. Rowan, who does not believe the criminal accusations against Trump, said the charges have galvanized support for Trump rather than making voters doubt him. “We know the truth. They are trying to wear us down. They are not going to wear us down,” Rowan said. Rich Foster, a retired police officer wearing a black “Bikers for Trump” T-shirt, said he believes some crimes were committed on Jan. 6, such as the attacks on police officers defending the Capitol, but does not consider Trump responsible for the violence that happened. “I don’t think Trump committed a crime that day,” Foster said. He said he believed that Trump, as president, had a right to speak out about the election. Trump has not been charged with inciting the attack, but prosecutors accused him of exploiting the violence and chaos at the Capitol to continue making false claims of election fraud and trying to halt the certification of the election results. Foster said he and other Trump supporters viewed the charges as an attempt to keep Trump from winning in 2024. He said he would write in the former president's name if he had to. “If they get him off the ballot somehow," he said, “I know how to write Donald J. Trump on the ballot.” Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Opera singer David Daniels and his husband plead guilty to sexual assault Slovenia has suffered its worst-ever floods. Damage could top 500 million euros, its leader says More people go missing and thousands are evacuated as northeast China is hit by more floods

Donald Trump's legal schedule is getting fuller by the day as the political season heats up, with the former president facing multiple criminal charges with more possibly on the way.

By Mubasher Bukhari, Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Charlotte Greenfield LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) -Police arrested Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan