Attorney General William Barr gave his most vociferous defense of President Donald Trump on Friday and accused his political opponents of trying to upend the Trump administration. In an hour-long speech at the Federalist Society—a largely Conservative and influential legal group—Barr hit out at Democrats for trying to dismiss voters who elected Trump by "using every tool and maneuver to sabotage" his administration. "In waging a scorched-earth, no-holds-barred war of resistance against this administration, it is the left that is engaged in a systematic shredding of norms and undermining the rule of law," Barr said. Barr's comments came a week after the Washington Post reported that he declined a request from Trump to hold a press conference to state that there was no illegality in a July phone call between the president and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The call is central to Democrats' impeachment probe into whether Trump was withholding military aid in order … [Read more...] about William Barr accuses Democrats of “scorched-earth, no-holds-barred war” against Trump
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House Republicans’ defense strategy for impeachment hearings reveals flaws: Analysis
House Republicans have geared up for the first public impeachment hearings in the Ukraine scandal, set to take place this week, by having GOP staffers send a memo to lawmakers that outlines the strategy to best defend President Donald Trump. But flaws remain within their arguments, which fail to address some of the damning allegations that Democrats will focus their questions on. The 18-page document details four main points of evidence that Republicans believe "are fatal to the Democrats' allegations" that Trump made an effort to force his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Democrats and 2016 election interference by withholding foreign military aid. "The July 25 call summary—the best evidence of the conversation—shows no conditionality or evidence of pressure." "President Zelensky and President Trump have both said there was no pressure on the call." In his now-infamous call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump said he "would like you to do us a favor, … [Read more...] about House Republicans’ defense strategy for impeachment hearings reveals flaws: Analysis
Five highlights from former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s testimony at Day 2 impeachment hearing
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified for hours on Friday about being removed from her post and attacks on her from President Donald Trump as part of the House Democrats' ongoing impeachment inquiry. Yovanovitch appeared before the House Intelligence Committee for a public hearing and was the third witness to testify to Congress this week about the Ukraine controversy. On Wednesday, diplomat William Taylor and State Department official George Kent gave damning testimony against the president. Yovanovitch was appointed ambassador under several different presidents, both Republican and Democrat, and began serving in Ukraine in August 2016. In May 2019, she was abruptly removed from her post even though, she says, her bosses assured her she'd done nothing wrong. The reasoning behind her dismissal has become a major focus of the House investigation of the president's conduct toward Ukraine. Yovanovitch told Congress that Trump and his personal attorney Rudy … [Read more...] about Five highlights from former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s testimony at Day 2 impeachment hearing
Rookie on F1 Grid | Raise Your Car or Race Your Car? It’s Lone Wolff vs The Rest in F1’s Latest Civil War
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport worldwide and has gained a massive following in recent years even in countries that don’t get to roll out the red carpet for racing; India being one of those countries and this author being one of those followers. This column is my attempt to connect with other new fans of the sport and share with them my journey of exploring this fast, furious, and yes, at times, frustrating, sport. Be careful what you wish for. After the back-breaking Baku race made Lewis Hamilton the go-to-meme for millennial health issues, Mercedes drummed up support in the paddock for the FIA to do something about porpoising . The FIA obliged, but its fix may end up biting Mercedes in the rear wing, dragging Ferrari for good measure, working Red Bull into a frenzy. And the Netflix cameras are watching it all. Let’s take it from the top. For the uninitiated, the phenomenon giving porpoises – cute aquatic mammals that resemble dolphins – a bad rep is the vertical … [Read more...] about Rookie on F1 Grid | Raise Your Car or Race Your Car? It’s Lone Wolff vs The Rest in F1’s Latest Civil War
Formula One: Ferrari’s Hopes Run High after Previous False Starts
Ferrari fans know all about false dawns and dashed hopes but the first three races of the Formula One season have brought the good times back to Maranello and sent expectations soaring. Charles Leclerc, seeking to become the Italian team’s first world champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, has taken 71 of 78 points available from the opening races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia. The Monegasque’s closest rival, Britain’s George Russell with Mercedes, is 34 points adrift while Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen is 46 behind after two retirements. IPL 2022 – FULL COVERAGE | SCHEDULE | RESULTS | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAP | POINTS TABLE “Obviously we only had the third race, so it’s difficult to think about the championship, but to be honest, we’ve got a very strong car, a very reliable car too,” Leclerc told reporters in Melbourne at the weekend. “I hope it continues like this and if it does, then we probably have chances for the championship — … [Read more...] about Formula One: Ferrari’s Hopes Run High after Previous False Starts
Charles Leclerc the Man to Beat After Australian Grand Prix Masterclass
Charles Leclerc has long been touted as a Formula One world champion in the making and the Ferrari driver has emerged as the man to beat this season after a dominant victory in Melbourne. The 24-year-old from Monaco blew away his rivals at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix at a revamped Albert Park, starting from pole and taking the chequered flag by more than 20 seconds from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. The 2022 campaign is just three races old, but the pace and reliability of Leclerc’s Ferrari — coupled with Max Verstappen’s problems at Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s travails at Mercedes — have seen him emerge as early favourite to win a maiden drivers’ title. IPL FULL COVERAGE | SCHEDULE | RESULTS | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAP Leclerc and Ferrari will have extra motivation, but also pressure, to ram home their advantage in the next race on April 24 because it takes place at Imola in front of their passionate home fans. Leclerc sits 34 points clear in the standings after his … [Read more...] about Charles Leclerc the Man to Beat After Australian Grand Prix Masterclass
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Antonio Banderas Set Up Production Company Amigos Para Siempre
Click here to read the full article. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Antonio Banderas are teaming up to create joint production company Amigos Para Siempre (APS), aimed at producing musicals, stage plays and live entertainment for major markets in the Spanish-speaking world, including the Latino U.S. market. Upcoming productions will include Spanish-language makeovers of Lloyd Webber classics, such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Starlight Express,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita,” “Cinderella,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “School of Rock.” More from Variety Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Set for New Role in 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' 'We Wrote a $500 Million Film': Tarantino's 'Crazy' Django/Zorro Film Hooked Antonio Banderas Andrew Lloyd Webber Says 'Costly Mistake' Comments About 'Cinderella' Were Misunderstood Spanish-language adaptation rights to these works will be ceded to the … [Read more...] about Andrew Lloyd Webber, Antonio Banderas Set Up Production Company Amigos Para Siempre
Rory McIlroy warns rebel golfers for chasing “boatloads of cash” in Saudi-funded series
Rory McIlroy has warned his fellow golf stars that have defected to the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf series about chasing ‘boatloads of cash’ ahead of the inaugural event in London this weekend. LIV Golf will stage their first three-day, 54-hole event at The Centurion Club near St Albans from Thursday amid a build-up littered with controversy and infighting . On Wednesday, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler became the latest stars set to join the lucrative series, whose first event has a purse worth £20million while the series’ total purse is around £200m. The field for the event will see the likes of six-time major champion Phil Mickelson and former World No. 1 Dustin Johnson compete against Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, Charr Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Kevin Na for eye-watering sums of money. Players that resigned their membership could be barred from competing at majors, and Johnson - who won the 2016 US … [Read more...] about Rory McIlroy warns rebel golfers for chasing “boatloads of cash” in Saudi-funded series
Justin Thomas wins PGA Championship after dramatic finish leads to play-off
Justin Thomas has won the US PGA Championship after a horror finish from Mito Pereira forced the first play-off at a men's major since the 2017 Masters. Coming into the final day, world number 100 Pereira had a three shot lead ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris. And the Chilean, who was hoping to win a major in just his second appearance, hung onto that lead until the final hole. At that point, his lead had been whittled down to just one shot by Thomas and Zalatoris, who both finished strongly. And Pereira made the crucial error of pulling out the driver on the 18th when a three wood or even a long iron would have been better suited. The 27-year-old promptly sliced his drive and found the water, making a double bogey and ultimately finishing tied for third with Cameron Young on four under par as his hopes of victory perished in the most dramatic. And Thomas was the ultimate beneficiary from Pereira's disastrous finish, capitalising to beat Zalatoris in the three-hole … [Read more...] about Justin Thomas wins PGA Championship after dramatic finish leads to play-off