Current News

Monday, November 2, 2020

Wikipedia article of the day for November 3, 2020

The Wikipedia article of the day for November 3, 2020 is William Henry Harrison 1840 presidential campaign.
William Henry Harrison's 1840 presidential campaign elevated Harrison, who had served as a general and in the U.S. Congress, to the presidency after at least four years of seeking the office. In the election, Harrison defeated the incumbent Democrat, Martin Van Buren, in a campaign that broke new ground in American politics. Among other firsts, Harrison's victory was the first time the Whig Party won the presidency. Harrison gained the nomination over Henry Clay and Winfield Scott. Many of his rallies took on a carnival atmosphere, growing to unprecedented size. He made speeches to some of them, breaking the custom that presidential hopefuls not campaign. Harrison's death in April 1841 marked the first time an American president failed to complete his term; he was succeeded by Vice President John Tyler. The unofficial campaign motto, "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too", has been called the most famous presidential campaign slogan in American history.

Be a 'secret agent' and other new ways to exercise

Turning a run into an adventure is just one of the innovations in the exercise industry.

from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/3oRr9G4

Sunday, November 1, 2020

SEAL Team Six Rescues American Hostage in Nigeria

SEAL Team Six has rescued an American who was being held hostage by a criminal gang in Northern Nigeria, according to reports.The gang kidnapped 27-year-old Philip Walton in Niger, which borders Nigeria, earlier this week. Officials worried the gang would sell Walton to terrorists, CBS News reported. A number of Walton's captors were killed in the raid, according to Fox News."U.S. forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men," Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement Saturday. "This American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the U.S. Department of State. No U.S military personnel were injured during the operation."President Trump called the operation a “big win” in a tweet on Saturday.> Big win for our very elite U.S. Special Forces today. Details to follow!> > -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2020Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed the U.S.’ commitment to the “safe return of all U.S. citizens taken captive,” in a statement on Saturday. "We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a U.S. citizen after a group of armed men took him hostage across the border in Niger,” Pompeo said.He continued: "Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family.”

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/322uBDQ

Battleground Tracker: Biden leads, Trump needs Election Day surge to win

CBS News Elections and Surveys Director Anthony Salvanto breaks down the latest polling with two days until Election Day.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3kRjoO6

Government agencies paying thousands to become 'Diversity Champions' for gay-rights charity

Government agencies and public bodies are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds a year to become 'Diversity Champions' for a charity with controversial views on transgender rights. Roughly 250 Government departments and public bodies, including police forces, local councils and NHS trusts, pay thousands each year to be members of the programme run by Stonewall. The amount that each organisation pays is shrouded in secrecy, but the base rate is £2,500 and can vary depending on the size of the organisation, suggesting that the taxpayer is footing a bill of at least £600,000. A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows it is paying the charity £6,000 a year for two subscriptions – one for their staff in England and one in Wales. A separate FOI request to the Scottish Government shows it paid £9,144 to the charity in 2019, including £7,200 for membership. As part of the programme, organisations are given training on inclusion and instructed to implement controversial policies such transgender people being able to choose which toilets and changing rooms to use. The CPS is currently facing a judicial review over its membership, which campaigners say renders it “institutionally biased”. It is said the legal challenge could have “huge implications” for other public bodies. On Saturday evening, critics claimed signing up to policies set by a group which is lobbying to change the law on gender issues, calls into question the ability of public bodies to remain impartial. The list of members on Stonewall’s website includes approximately 250 taxpayer-funded institutions, an analysis by The Telegraph has found, including GCHQ, MI5, the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office, the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice. The list also contains 57 local authorities, 47 emergency service providers, including almost 30 police forces, and more than 50 NHS organisations. Stonewall’s accounts show it made £3.26 million in fees last year, up from £2.76 million the year before, a large part of which comes from the Diversity Champions programme, but also includes payments from schools for becoming 'Education Champions' and for event speakers. On their own websites many organisations hail themselves as Diversity Champions without mentioning they pay a subscription fee for the title. For example, the Department for Work and Pensions notes: “Stonewall acknowledges DWP as a Diversity Champion in recognition of our work to promote supportive work environments for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) colleagues” – but does not disclose any payments. Stonewall says membership allows organisations to have access to their research and expertise as well as networking opportunities. One teenage girl, supported by the Safe Schools Alliance UK (SSA),has applied for a judicial review of the CPS membership of the Diversity Champions programme. The CPS has responded saying membership of the Diversity Champions programme has no bearing on its role as a prosecuting authority, and a judge is set to decide whether there is a case to answer in the coming weeks. Tracy Shaw, a spokesperson for the SSA, said there was a duty on public bodies to remain impartial, objective and balanced and that could be compromised by membership of a lobby group. She said: “How can you be impartial when you are part of a champion programme which compels you to do certain things and behave in a certain way that contravenes women and girls rights to safe spaces?" Nancy Kelley, chief executive of Stonewall said: "All employers, including public authorities, have a legal duty to reduce inequalities and ensure lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are free from discrimination at work. “Our industry-leading Diversity Champions programme supports organisations to make their workplaces more inclusive of LGBT people. This work is absolutely vital as more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of bullying because they’re LGBT. “The programme covers everything from policy and procedure, to staff networks and monitoring, to culture and well-being to help organisation create truly inclusive workplaces." A CPS spokesman said: “Our status as a Stonewall champion plays no part in our decision making. It is to show that the CPS is an employer that welcomes and respects our LGBT+ staff.”

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2HTcw4g

Bricks thrown at police, Northwestern University students pepper-sprayed in off-campus clash as protesters again call on university to defund its police

EVANSTON, Ill. — After leaving campus, protesters from Northwestern University who were demonstrating Saturday night clashed with Evanston authorities, and a school spokesman said both students and officers reported dangerous conditions from attacks by the other side. Jon Yates, a spokesman with the university, said he had been in contact with the department and was told officers used pepper ...

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3mKYnVw

A hangman's noose displayed in a polling station in Missouri covered up following complaints of voter intimidation towards Black voters

The noose was part of a display in a historical exhibit marking the last legal execution by hanging in Missouri in 1937.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3jNQbSw