INSIDER
Christian Lamb made maps to guide the crews landing crafts at Normandy on D-Day
Read full article: Christian Lamb made maps to guide the crews landing crafts at Normandy on D-DayAs a young Women's Royal Naval Service officer in World War II, Christian Lamb tried to make sure British troops were in exactly the right place when they scrambled onto Normandy's beaches under enemy fire.
4 men charged in theft of satirical golden toilet titled 'America,' at Churchill's birthplace
Read full article: 4 men charged in theft of satirical golden toilet titled 'America,' at Churchill's birthplaceFour men have been charged over the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, the sprawling English mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born.
Biden will use Camp David backdrop hoping to broker a breakthrough in Japan-South Korea relations
Read full article: Biden will use Camp David backdrop hoping to broker a breakthrough in Japan-South Korea relationsPresident Joe Biden will host the leaders of Japan and South Korea at Camp David to encourage the U.S. allies, who have been thawing their frosty relationship, to cooperate more given their shared concerns about aggression from China and North Korea.
Pageantry evoking Churchill greets Zelenskyy in Washington
Read full article: Pageantry evoking Churchill greets Zelenskyy in WashingtonAt a time of grave consequence, a wartime leader crosses the Atlantic to arrive at a White House decked in holiday decor to consult with the American president about a war in Europe.
Broncos' Russell Wilson says he's 'ready to roll' in London
Read full article: Broncos' Russell Wilson says he's 'ready to roll' in LondonBroncos quarterback Russell Wilson has proclaimed himself โready to rollโ despite a lingering hamstring injury ahead of Denverโs game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.
Russell Wilson returns to practice 4 days after injection
Read full article: Russell Wilson returns to practice 4 days after injectionQuarterback Russell Wilson was back on the practice field throwing passes Tuesday just four days after flying to Los Angeles to get an injection to ease the discomfort in his ailing throwing shoulder.
AP Source: Russell Wilson gets injection for shoulder injury
Read full article: AP Source: Russell Wilson gets injection for shoulder injuryA person with knowledge of the procedure confirms to The Associated Press that Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson flew to Los Angeles on Friday to get an injection for his ailing throwing shoulder.
Queen's death is reminder of disappearing WWII generation
Read full article: Queen's death is reminder of disappearing WWII generationThe long good-bye for Queen Elizabeth II is a reminder of a broader truth playing out with little fanfare across Britain: The nation is bidding farewell to the men and women who fought the countryโs battles during World War II.
US-UK relations enter new chapter as new PM, king settle in
Read full article: US-UK relations enter new chapter as new PM, king settle inPresident Joe Biden has arrived in London to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II at a time of transition in U.S.-U.K. relations, with both a new monarch and a new prime minister settling in.
What to know about the queen's lying in state in Westminster
Read full article: What to know about the queen's lying in state in WestminsterHundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to Londonโs medieval Westminster Hall from Wednesday to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, whose coffin will lie in state for four days until her funeral on Monday.
King Charles III, in first address, vows 'lifelong service'
Read full article: King Charles III, in first address, vows 'lifelong service'King Charles III says he feels โprofound sorrowโ over the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and vows to carry on her โlifelong serviceโ to the nation.
House passes military lend-lease bill to speed Ukraine aid
Read full article: House passes military lend-lease bill to speed Ukraine aidThe U.S. House has given final passage to legislation that would streamline a World War II-era military lend-lease program to help Ukraine fight the Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy center stage: Facing Congress, pleading for help
Read full article: Zelenskyy center stage: Facing Congress, pleading for helpUkraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the U.S. Congress โ the next stop as the actor-turned-wartime leader uses the Western worldโs great legislative bodies as a global stage to help his country.
Zelenskyy pleads for help in impassioned speech to Congress
Read full article: Zelenskyy pleads for help in impassioned speech to CongressUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has summoned the memory of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11 terror attacks in an impassioned plea to Congress to send more help for Ukraineโs fight against Russia.
Navy commander fired after refusing to get COVID vaccine
Read full article: Navy commander fired after refusing to get COVID vaccineOfficials say a U.S. Navy commander has been fired from his job as the executive officer of a warship because he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine as required and refused to be tested for the virus.
Why the Anthony Bourdain voice cloning creeps people out
Read full article: Why the Anthony Bourdain voice cloning creeps people outThe revelation that a documentary filmmaker used voice-cloning software to make the late chef Anthony Bourdain say words he never spoke has drawn criticism amid concerns about use of the powerful technology.
Leaders head to COVID-themed G7 summit with vaccine pledges
Read full article: Leaders head to COVID-themed G7 summit with vaccine pledgesGroup of Seven leaders began arriving at a luxury seaside resort in England on Thursday for a Group of Seven summit where the worldโs richest nations will pledge to give up some of their coronavirus vaccines with the poorest.
Biden, Johnson strike warm tone in first meeting
Read full article: Biden, Johnson strike warm tone in first meetingPresident Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson used their first meeting Thursday to highlight a commitment to strengthening their nationsโ historic ties while setting aside, at least publicly, their differences both political and personal.
Hundreds rally in England and Wales over police legislation
Read full article: Hundreds rally in England and Wales over police legislationHundreds of people marched Saturday through central London and other cities across England and Wales to protest the British government's plan to hand new powers to the police to tackle demonstrations.
WWII codebreaker Turing honored on UK's new 50-pound note
Read full article: WWII codebreaker Turing honored on UK's new 50-pound noteThe rainbow flag is flying proudly above the Bank of England in the heart of Londons financial district to commemorate legendary World War II codebreaker Alan Turing, the new face of Britains 50-pound note. The design of the bank note was unveiled before it is being formally issued to the public on June 23, Turing's birthday. The 50-pound note is the most valuable denomination in circulation but is little used during everyday transactions, especially during the coronavirus pandemic as digital payments increasingly replaced the use of cash. AdAmong his many accomplishments, Turing is most famous for the pivotal role he played in breaking Nazi Germany's Enigma code during World War II. During World War II, Turing worked at the secret Bletchley Park code-breaking center, where he helped crack Enigma by creating the โTuring bombe,โ a forerunner of modern computers.
Recording Registry adds albums by Janet Jackson, Nas
Read full article: Recording Registry adds albums by Janet Jackson, NasJacksons socially conscious album Rhythm Nation 1814, Armstrongs jazzy When the Saints Go Marching In and Nas debut release Illmatic are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES โ Janet Jacksonโs socially conscious album โRhythm Nation 1814,โ Louis Armstrongโs jazzy โWhen the Saints Go Marching Inโ and Nasโ debut release โIllmaticโ are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress announced Wednesday that Labelleโs song โLady Marmaladeโ and Kool & the Gangโs โCelebrationโ are some of the titles tapped for preservation this year. โThe National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years,โ Hayden said in a statement. The library selects titles for preservation because of their cultural and historic importance to the American soundscape.
Churchill painting owned by Angelina Jolie sells for $11.5M
Read full article: Churchill painting owned by Angelina Jolie sells for $11.5MThe Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie sold at auction on Monday March 1, 2021, for more than $11.5 million, smashing the previous record for a work by Britains World War II leader. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)LONDON โ A Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie sold at auction on Monday for more than $11.5 million, smashing the previous record for a work by Britainโs World War II leader. The pre-sale estimate was 1.5 million pounds to 2.5 million pounds, and the previous record price for a Churchill painting was just under 1.8 million pounds. Churchill gave the painting to Roosevelt as a memento of the trip. The painting was sold by the Jolie Family Collection.
At Camp David retreat, Biden hangs out, shows he's got game
Read full article: At Camp David retreat, Biden hangs out, shows he's got gameFILE - In this July 1981 file photo released by The White House, U.S. President Ronald Reagan, left, and Vice President George Bush go horseback riding at Camp David, Md. He capped it off by beating one of his granddaughters at Mario Kart during his first presidential visit to Camp David, the historic retreat for U.S. leaders. Thatโs what Camp David has traditionally offered presidents: a respite from Washington where they can shed their ties and relax with family. Bill Clinton tried to replicate that diplomatic alchemy when he invited Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Camp David for Mideast peace talks in 2000. He said when foreign leaders descend on Camp David, it can be like an โadult sleepover.โโGoing to camp in the cabins creates an atmosphere where leaders are very close together.
The Latest: China's northeast outbreaks appear under control
Read full article: The Latest: China's northeast outbreaks appear under controlCambodia on Sunday received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine, a donation of 600,000 doses from China, the country's biggest ally. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)BEIJING โ China appears to have stamped out its latest coronavirus outbreaks centered on the northeast, reporting no new cases of local infection in its latest daily report. ___TEHRAN, Iran โ Iran has unveiled its second homemade coronavirus vaccine and says it has begun human trials, state TV reported Sunday. ___JAKARTA, Indonesia โ Indonesiaโs Food and Drug Authority has announced an emergency use authorization to give the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinaโs Sinovac Biotech Ltd. to people over 60. ___KABUL, Afghanistan โ Some 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived Sunday in Afghanistan from the government in India.
Angelina Jolie sells painting Churchill gave as gift to FDR
Read full article: Angelina Jolie sells painting Churchill gave as gift to FDR(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON โ A painting by Winston Churchill that is a piece of both political and Hollywood history is coming up for auction. He painted it after the January 1943 Casablanca Conference, where Churchill and Roosevelt planned the defeat of Nazi Germany. He said Churchill captured the view in the โwonderful, evocative paintingโ and gave it to Roosevelt as a memento of the trip. AdThe painting is being sold by the Jolie Family Collection as part of Christieโs March 1 modern British art auction in London. โThe record price at auction for Churchill is about 1.8 million (pounds) for a painting that, in my view, is not as important as this,โ he said.
Blair House guest quarters a temporary home for VP Harris
Read full article: Blair House guest quarters a temporary home for VP HarrisIn this Jan. 25, 2021 photo, Secret Service vehicles parked outside of Blair House in Washington. Blair House, the official government guest house, is serving as a temporary home for Vice President Kamala Harris. AdSo Harris moved into Blair House, where President Harry Truman lived from 1948-1952 during major renovations to the White House. The original Blair House was built in 1824 by Joseph Lovell, the Army surgeon general, and later sold to journalist Francis Preston Blair. The Blair family sold the house to the U.S. government in the early 1940s, and it was turned into the president's official guest house.
Unwanted virus milestone: UK's civilian dead now tops WWII's
Read full article: Unwanted virus milestone: UK's civilian dead now tops WWII'sThe United Kingdom has suffered its worst civilian loss of life since World War II by a significant number. But the United Kingdom has now suffered its worst civilian loss of life since World War II by a significant number. Here's a look at some of Britain's struggles with civilian deaths during World War II and since. In World War II, the threat to Britain was existential. WORLD WAR II CIVILIAN DEATHSFrom September 1940-May 1941, the U.K. suffered an intensive bombing campaign by Germany's Luftwaffe that struck the biggest cities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Cesar Chavez's son happy dad's bust is in Biden Oval Office
Read full article: Cesar Chavez's son happy dad's bust is in Biden Oval OfficeFILE - This Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, file photo shows the newly redecorated Oval Office of the White House in Washington. It was an utter surprise Wednesday when he saw Biden at his desk in the Oval Office, with the bust of the late Cesar Chavez right behind the president. It was an utter surprise Wednesday when he saw Biden at his desk in the Oval Office, with the bust of the late Cesar Chavez right behind the president. All presidents tweak the Oval Office decor at the start of their terms to reflect their personal tastes or to telegraph broader messages to the public. The White House maintains a vast collection of furniture, paintings and other artifacts that they can choose from.
Gary Oldman on finding the frequency of 'Mank'
Read full article: Gary Oldman on finding the frequency of 'Mank'But Fincher cast Oldmanโs manager, Douglas Urbanski (as Larry Summers in โThe Social Networkโ), before he called up Oldman about another role. Orson Welles was a genius and if everybody doesnโt know that, I donโt know what to say.โIn crafting the portrait of Mankiewicz, Fincher wanted Oldman as himself. Oldman was himself once an alcoholic and, like Mank, prone to audacious gambles. Back when he was drinking, Oldman chose between two simultaneous offers โ โWaterworldโ and โThe Scarlet Letterโ โ with a coin flip. In a court filing in 2001, Fiorentino alleged that Oldman hit her with a telephone, an allegation that Oldman strongly denies.
UK readies for 'V-Day,' its 1st shots in war on coronavirus
Read full article: UK readies for 'V-Day,' its 1st shots in war on coronavirus(Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP)LONDON โ Itโs been dubbed โV-Dayโ in Britain -- recalling the D-Day landings in France that marked the start of the final push in World War II to defeat Nazi Germany. In other words, the National Health Service is saying to the waiting public, in effect: Don't call us, we'll call you. Most people will have to wait until next year before there is enough vaccine on hand to expand the program. โI donโt think people should expect anything over the next few days because the reality is โฆ that for the vast, vast, vast majority of people this will be done in January, February, March,โณ said Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers. The first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were delivered to a selected group of U.K. hospitals on Sunday.
Fact or fiction? UK govt says 'The Crown' should be clear
Read full article: Fact or fiction? UK govt says 'The Crown' should be clearLONDON โ Britainโs culture minister thinks the Netflix TV series โThe Crownโ should come with a disclaimer: Itโs a work of fiction. โItโs a beautifully produced work of fiction. So as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that,โ Dowden told the Mail on Sunday newspaper. โMixing historical fact and fiction has been around since Shakespeare. โNobodyโs bothered if fact and fiction are all mangled up, so long as itโs saying nice things,โ he added.
California pub tries to keep calm, carry on with virus rules
Read full article: California pub tries to keep calm, carry on with virus rulesA server carries food for a customer at Ye Olde King's Head on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)SANTA MONICA, Calif. โ By most measures of what keeps a pub afloat, the coronavirus pandemic should already have Ye Olde King's Head on its last kegs. โItโs not worth thinking about," said operations manager Lisa Powers, who has guided the 46-year-old institution through an ever-changing set of public health orders. The latest surge comes as public health officials across the U.S. raise the alarm about out-of-control transmission of the virus, strengthen restrictions and urge people against holding large Thanksgiving gatherings. The King's Head had to offer its traditional British fare โ everything from bangers and mash and fish and chips to traditional Sunday roast โ for takeout.
Trump putting democracy to the test after his loss to Biden
Read full article: Trump putting democracy to the test after his loss to BidenAll of this an effort to discredit the outcome and, in the process, put democracy itself on trial. Trump is using not just his sway over the party but also the levers of government to keep Biden at bay at least for a while longer. In 2016, Trump won Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania by a combined 77,000 votes; Democrat Hillary Clinton called him on election night and publicly conceded the next day. Her advantage in the popular vote of nearly 3 million has animated the grievances of her supporters to this day, but the Electoral College arithmetic was inexorable and not to be challenged. Obama then welcomed Trump to the White House in a display to the world of the rituals of an American democratic transition.
Candidate concessions have been colorful, funny โ or absent
Read full article: Candidate concessions have been colorful, funny โ or absentFILE - In this Nov. 4, 1992, file photo, President George H.W. Bill Clinton won the 1992 president election. Most concessions are gracious โ less about the loser and more about closure for the country. โJust moments ago I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States. President John Adams was glum, too.
UK's National Trust details historic sites' links to slavery
Read full article: UK's National Trust details historic sites' links to slaveryFILE - This Jan. 23, 2015 file photo shows Winston Churchill's family home at Chartwell, England, which is cared for by the National Trust. Britains National Trust which looks after hundreds of the countrys well-loved historic sites, published a report Tuesday Sept. 22, 2020, said 93 of its sites have connections with aspects of the global slave trade or Britains colonial history. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP, File)LONDON โ Britainโs National Trust, which looks after hundreds of the countryโs well-loved historic sites, has detailed how dozens of its properties have links to slavery and colonialism. Some of the places were โpartly or largely funded by the proceeds of slavery,โ the trust said. The National Trust report also listed colonial writer Rudyard Kiplingโs home in Sussex, southern England, and Chartwell, the family home of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Trump pushes into Nevada, questions integrity of election
Read full article: Trump pushes into Nevada, questions integrity of electionUnleashing 90-plus minutes of grievances and attacks, Trump claimed the stateโs Democratic governor tried to block him and repeated his false claim that mail-in ballots would taint the election result. Several thousand people covered the tarmac in Minden, including Tom Lenz, 64, of Sparks, Nevada, who said he didnโt vote for Trump last time. But Trumpโs campaign has invested heavily in the state, relying on its ground game to turn out voters. If Arizona slips away, Trump campaign officials privately acknowledge that it would complicate his path to 270 electoral votes. The Republican National Committee said it expected to raise $18 million, which would be shared by Trumpโs campaign, the committee and several state GOP committees.
Trump's virus debate: Project strength or level with public
Read full article: Trump's virus debate: Project strength or level with public(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)WASHINGTON โ โThe only thing we have to fear is fear itselfโ โ President Franklin D. Roosevelt. ___In times of crisis โ wars, hurricanes, pandemics โ effective leaders strike a balance between inspirational rhetoric and leveling with the public about the tough times ahead. โIn Trumpโs case, he was saying it was not a dire situation, he was putting people off their guard,โ Beschloss added. She cited public skepticism even after schools, sports, entertainment and other industries shut down to keep the virus at bay. Still, โyou want people to be informed and to make decisions that are for individual safety and for public safety.
UK demonstrators hold fourth weekend of anti-racism protests
Read full article: UK demonstrators hold fourth weekend of anti-racism protestsA white U.S. Police officer in Minneapolis, recently killed black man George Floyd, sparking anti-racism protests worldwide, and the Black Lives Matter movement hoping to enable reforms and greater social justice. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)LONDON Anti-racism demonstrators are holding a fourth weekend of protests across the U.K., despite a ban on large gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds assembled for a socially distanced Say No to Racism rally in Glasgows George Square, where earlier this week members of the far right attacked a refugee-rights gathering. Hundreds of thousands of people have held mostly peaceful anti-racism protests across Britain since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, urging the U.K. to confront its own history of imperialism and racial inequality. Hundreds of far-right activists clashed June 13 with police near the Churchill statue in London, which had been boarded up for protection.
Protesters in US call attention to deaths of more black men
Read full article: Protesters in US call attention to deaths of more black men(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)Protests initially ignited by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police continued over the weekend, as anti-racism protesters in the United States sought to call attention to the deaths of two more black men and Black Lives Matter demonstrations unfolded in London and Paris. The protesters marched from where the body was found to a sheriffs station, with many carrying signs that said Justice for Robert Fuller.Authorities said the death appeared to be a suicide, but an autopsy was planned. European protesters sought to show solidarity with their American counterparts and to confront bias in their own countries on Saturday. A Black Lives Matter group in London called off a demonstration, saying the presence of counter-protesters would make it unsafe. A rally in Paris drew 15,000, led by supporters of Adama Traore, a French black man who died in police custody in 2016.
World joins US protests but leaders restrained about Trump
Read full article: World joins US protests but leaders restrained about TrumpBut leaders of traditional allies of the United States have taken pains to avoid criticizing Trump directly. But at the top, the leaders of traditional allies of the United States have taken pains to avoid criticizing Trump directly, walking a fine line to reconcile international diplomacy with domestic outrage. German Chancellor Angela Merkel sidestepped questions from ZDF public television about Trump last week, saying the killing of Floyd was "really, really terrible. Trump, he has, amongst many other things, he is president of the United States, which is our most important ally in the world today, Johnson said. I share and stand in solidarity with the demonstrations that are taking place in the United States, he said.
Far-right activists protest in London despite warnings
Read full article: Far-right activists protest in London despite warningsBritish police officers, left, scuffle with members of far-right groups protesting against a Black Lives Matter demonstration, in central London, Saturday, June 13, 2020. British police have imposed strict restrictions on groups planning to protest in London Saturday in a bid to avoid violent clashes between protesters from the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as far-right groups. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON Hundreds of far-right activists gathered to demonstrate in central London's Parliament Square Saturday, despite strict police restrictions and warnings to stay home to contain the coronavirus. Officials put protective panels around the monuments amid fears that far-right activists would seek confrontations with anti-racism protesters under the guise of protecting statues. In London, Churchills statue was daubed with the words was a racist.Police have imposed strict restrictions on Saturdays protests in a bid to avoid violent clashes.
More global protests emerge over racism, police actions
Read full article: More global protests emerge over racism, police actionsTensions were high in cities around the globe, nearly three weeks after George Floyd, a black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck. A Black Lives Matter group in London called off a demonstration, saying the presence of counter-protesters would make it unsafe. Officials feared far-right activists would seek confrontations with anti-racism protesters under the guise of protecting statues. The march was led by supporters of Adama Traore, a French black man who died in police custody in 2016. A petition with 5,000 signatures said the statue represents a black man beneath someone else.Hundreds rallied in Prague for the second straight weekend in support of protests in the U.S.
Paris marchers decry racism, far right rallies in London
Read full article: Paris marchers decry racism, far right rallies in LondonIn London, far-right activists and soccer rowdies scuffled with police while trying to guard historical monuments that have been targeted recently by anti-racism protesters for their links to slavery and British colonialism. Let us breathe.The Paris march in Paris was led by supporters of Adama Traore, a French black man who died in police custody in 2016 in circumstances that remain unclear despite four years of back-and-forth autopsies. Officers prevented people attending the main rally from approaching the counter-demonstrators, but didn't detain the far-right activists until two hours later, further angering the crowd below. Some protesters still gathered at Hyde Park to denounce racism while hundreds of far-right activists demonstrated, despite strict police restrictions and warnings to stay home to contain the coronavirus. Officials put protective panels around the monuments amid fears that far-right activists would seek confrontations with anti-racism protesters under the guise of protecting statues.
Statues boarded up in London as more protests expected
Read full article: Statues boarded up in London as more protests expectedScaffolders erect boarding around the statue of Sir Winston Churchill at Parliament Square, in London, Thursday, June 11, 2020, following Black Lives Matter protests that took place across the U.K. over the weekend. The protests were ignited by the death of George Floyd, who died after he was restrained by Minneapolis police while in custody on May 25. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)LONDON Authorities in London boarded up a war memorial and a statue of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill ahead of expected rival demonstrations by anti-racism and far-right protesters, as the citys mayor on Friday urged protesters to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Several other statues have been defaced during mass protests around the country, including Churchills, which was daubed with the words was a racist. Police now fear far-right groups plan to seek confrontation under the guise of protecting statues. With more demonstrations expected on the weekend, a protective plywood screen was erected late Thursday around Churchills statue outside Parliament.
Milley says he was wrong to accompany Trump on church walk
Read full article: Milley says he was wrong to accompany Trump on church walkFILE - In this June 1, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit outside St. John's Church, in Washington. Walking behind Trump from left are, Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON Army Gen. Mark Milley, the nation's top military officer, said Thursday he was wrong to have accompanied President Donald Trump on a walk to a church through Lafayette Square, where he was photographed in his combat uniform with the presidential entourage. Trump has not commented publicly on those moves, which do not require White House or congressional approval. And I am not immune," he said, noting the photograph of him at Lafayette Square.
Not set in stone: Statues fall as Europe reexamines its past
Read full article: Not set in stone: Statues fall as Europe reexamines its pastThe statue has been pulled out of the harbor where protesters dumped it and will be placed in a museum. His statue was removed from the University of Cape Town in South Africa in 2015 after students led a Rhodes Must Fall campaign. Campaigners want his statue removed from atop its column in Edinburghs St. Andrew Square. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the statues removal, tweeting last month that Schoelcher has made France great by abolishing slavery. In Madrid, a central square named for him features a prominent Columbus statue surrounded by traffic.
London mayor says statues of imperialists could be removed
Read full article: London mayor says statues of imperialists could be removed(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON More statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britains streets, following the unauthorized felling of a monument to slave trader Edward Colston in the city of Bristol, the mayor of London said Tuesday. Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was setting up a commission to ensure the citys monuments reflected its diversity. Debate over who should be publicly commemorated has been reignited in Britain by the felling of a monument to Colston, a 17th-century slave trader and philanthropist. Many Bristolians welcomed the statues removal, but the British government called it an act of vandalism and urged police to prosecute the perpetrators. At weekend protests in London, demonstrators scrawled was a racist on a statue of Winston Churchill.
McEnany's mission: Stand by, defend, punch back for Trump
Read full article: McEnany's mission: Stand by, defend, punch back for TrumpHe summoned her, after all to be his fourth White House press secretary and to his side on last week at the steps of St. Johns Church after the military forcefully cleared away peaceful protesters. But Trump did not speak of spirituality or the health and racial crises wracking the country he leads. The separation between White House press secretary and campaign spokesperson is traditionally rooted in the idea that taxpayers should not pay the salary of a political advocate. She and communications director Alyssa Farah were brought in by new chief of staff Mark Meadows, who wanted to bolster the press shop after it flagged under press secretary Stephanie Grisham. That means not just pushing the White House perspective, but also at times criticizing news coverage and individual reporters.
In Bristol, toppling of slave trader's statue a major moment
Read full article: In Bristol, toppling of slave trader's statue a major momentIn the English port city that once launched slave ships, an empty plinth has become the epicenter of a debate about racism, history and memory. For over a century the pedestal held the statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century slave trader whose wealth helped Bristol grow. Bristol went on to become Britains biggest port for slave ships during the early 18th century. Modern-day Bristol has Colstons almshouses, several Colston schools, Colston Avenue, Colston Tower and the Colston Hall concert venue. Some residents of the city feel that toppling the statue amounts to airbrushing the past.
White House: Trump church visit akin to Churchill WWII role
Read full article: White House: Trump church visit akin to Churchill WWII roleLike Churchill, we saw him inspecting the bombing damage and it sent a powerful message of leadership to the British people," she said. For this president, it was powerful and important to send a message that the rioters, the looters, the anarchists, they will not prevail, McEnany said. Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, said he was disgusted by McEnanys comparison. Religious leaders, including Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, have fiercely criticized Trump over the tactics used against demonstrators. And its only the other side that didnt like it.Trump has praised the leadership of Churchill before.
In a first, IBMโs computer debater faces off against itself
Read full article: In a first, IBMโs computer debater faces off against itselfThe topic - whether artificial intelligence would do more harm than good - was something each side had a big stake in because both were using the technology to deliver their arguments. IBMโs Project Debater, a robot that has already debated humans, was for the first time being pitted against itself, at least in the first round. Artificial intelligence โwill not be able to make a decision that is the morally correct one, because morality is unique to humans,โ the computer system said in a synthetic and vaguely feminine voice. Artificial intelligence can only make decisions it has been programmed for and โit is not possible to program for all scenarios, only humans can." Project Debater quipped, "Let's move to an issue close to my artificial heart: technology," drawing laughter from the crowd.
Solid gold toilet stolen from Blenheim Palace
Read full article: Solid gold toilet stolen from Blenheim Palace"America", a fully-working solid gold toilet, created by artist Maurizio Cattelan, is seen at Blenheim Palace on Sept. 12 in Woodstock, England. The Italian artist is known as the prankster of the art world. His most notable piece being(CNN) - A toilet made entirely of 18-carat-gold has been stolen from Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, the stately home where former prime minister Winston Churchill was born. The fully functioning toilet was installed as part of an exhibition by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan titled "Victory is Not an Option," which only opened to the public on Thursday. At Blenheim Palace, the toilet was installed in a room next to the one in which Churchill was born.