Aiken discusses Trump
Aiken says people should not count Trump out:
I don’t think anybody should discount him. Nobody thought that we would see him in the position he is in right now. He is certainly the frontrunner with no signs of that fading… I think he has a really great opportunity — even if he doesn’t win the Republican nomination — to do something I think the country has needed for a long time, which is to try to break this stranglehold of the two-party system. I kind of hope he decides to stick with it and maybe give people another option outside of the Republicans and Democrats.
Brother-in-law recounts mother’s escape
Details on the fire that killed Dawabshe’s are revealed by his mother’s brother-in-law, who addresses a Tel Aviv crowd of more than 2,000 Israelis protesting the killing, joined on stage by heads of the Israeli left. Ali’s mother tried to save her baby while fleeing from her home.
This has no precedence. I was with the family at my father’s house, who has illness in the kidneys. And our mother is also ill. After midnight—1:30 [am] at night—each one went to their own home. After a half an hour, the family was surprised that something burning was thrown at their house. It was very strong and the whole house burned. There’s nothing left.
At that moment my brother Sa’ed and his wife Riham caught on fire. Despite the burns, Sa’ed carried his son, four year old Ahmad, outside the house. Riham grabbed a blanket, she thought that the child, Ali, was in the blanket. But they learned that the child wasn’t in the blanket, but was left inside. She [Riham] began to yell “Where’s Ali?!” Ali was was burning. She saw him burn. She begged her family to bring her burned baby to her. At that time no one was able to enter the house because the fire was so big. By the time the fire brigade had arrived and put out the fire, and we finally got inside, we witnessed the horrific sight. We saw Ali completely burned, his whole body covered in burns and nothing we can do to save him. Riham went to sleep wishing her baby sweet dreams and they came and burned a family, sound asleep.
Releases America’s Clean Power Plan
Obama unveils the final version of America’s Clean Power Plan, which sets a goal of cutting carbon pollution from power plants by 32 percent by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. The rule assigns each state a target for reducing its carbon pollution from power plants, but allows states to create their own custom plans for doing so. Obama says that the plans will lead to lower energy bills for everyday Americans and create jobs in the renewable energy sector.
[These rules are] the biggest, most important step we’ve ever taken to combat climate change.Power plants are the single biggest source of harmful carbon pollution that contributes to climate change. But until now there have been no federal limits to the amount of that pollution that those plants can dump into the air….Climate change is not a problem for another generation. Not anymore.
Seek gun background checks
The actress pledges to become involved in efforts to curb gun violence at a news conference. Schumer says her second cousin’s package of plans “seeks to address the how,” vowing that these initial public remarks “will not be my last.”
We’ll never know why people choose to do these painful things, but sadly, we always find out how.
Specifically, Senator Schumer is introducing legislation that would allow the Justice Department to create rewards and penalties for states that submit or don’t submit all records into the background check system. The Schumers also called on Congress to fully fund the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which the Senate has proposed cutting by $159 million.
Seized liquor bottle contains air freshener
Lab tests confirm that contents of a bottle of Barton’s gin seized by Tensing in Dubose’s traffic stop are, as Dubose had said, air freshener. The liquid tests negative for ethyl alcohol. Hamilton County Coroner:
[The liquid] consistent with compounds commonly found in fragrance products such as air fresheners and perfumes.
$1 billion for clean energy
Gates explains why he is investing $1 billion of his own money into clean energy research:
I believe that the next half-decade will bring many breakthroughs that will help solve climate change. As I argued in this 2010 TED talk, we need to be able to power all sectors of the economy with sources that do not emit any carbon dioxide. But when it comes to preventing the worst effects of climate change, the investments I make will matter much less than the choices that governments make…of all the people who will be affected by climate change, those in poor countries will suffer the most. Higher temperatures and less-predictable weather would hurt poor farmers, most of whom live on the edge and can be devastated by a single bad crop. Food supplies could decline. Hunger and malnutrition could rise. It would be a terrible injustice to let climate change undo any of the past half-century’s progress against poverty and disease—and doubly unfair because the people who will be hurt the most are the ones doing the least to cause the problem.
Ends trophy shipments
American, Delta, and United ban the transport of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo, animals known in Africa as the “big five”, because they are the hardest to kill on foot. Delta, the only American airline to fly directly between the United States and Johannesburg, will also review policies on accepting other hunting trophies with government agencies and other organizations that support legal shipments.
Surveillance video shows attack
A surveillance video shows the attack on hitchBOT. The camera footage shows a man beating the robot with a baseball bat and stomping on it before walking away. Zeller:
Sadly, sadly it’s come to an end. I’m surprised by how upset I actually am. I didn’t expect it. I think that image that’s circulated now on social media of vandalized HitchBOT is quite upsetting.
Zuma impeachment motion notice
The Democratic Alliance gives the National Assembly notice of a motion to be debated on August 18 for the impeachment against President Zuma. DA leader Maimane:
The events that led to the escape of Bashir represent a clear violation of the president’s oath to ‘obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other law of the Republic’ and serve as nothing less than grounds for his removal from office in terms of section 89[1][a] of the Constitution. In blatant disregard of their legal obligations, however, Cabinet granted Bashir immunity while attending the summit of the African Union [AU] in June, and subsequently allowed him to escape the country. President Zuma, as the head of the Cabinet, bears ultimate responsibility for this decision.
The ANC says the proposed motion is a publicity stunt by the DA:
Section 89 of the Constitution states amongst others that the president may only be removed from office for a serious violation of the Constitution or the law. No court of law has ever found the president guilty of violation of the law or the Constitution. In the absence of any constitutional or legal basis, Mmusi Maimane’s motion amounts to political posturing and is not worth the paper it is written on. As we have repeatedly stated, all heads of states and delegates that attended the African Union summit in Sandton were granted diplomatic immunity by the government in line with international standards and practices related to events such as the one held recently in our country.
Not chosen for GOP debate
Perry, Santorum, Jindal, Fiorina, Graham, Pataki and Gilmore will not appear in the GOP presidential debate in Cleveland, OH. They are below the threshold set by the average of of five recent national polls to calculate the top 10 candidates.
Unlimited maternity/paternity leave
Netflix announces that it is allowing employees to take unlimited maternity or paternity leave during the first year after their child’s birth or adoption. They can return on a full- or part-time basis, and even take subsequent time off later in the year if needed. Netflix will “keep paying them normally,” eliminating the hassle of having to switch to disability leave.
Netflix’s continued success hinges on us competing for and keeping the most talented individuals in their field. Experience shows people perform better at work when they’re not worrying about home. This new policy, combined with our unlimited time off, allows employees to be supported during the changes in their lives and return to work more focused and dedicated.
Would shut down gov to defund Planned Parenthood
Trump says on Hewitt’s show that he would shut down the government to defund Planned Parenthood.
Hewitt: The only way to get rid of Planned Parenthood money for selling off baby parts, is to shut the government down in September would you support that?
Trump: I can tell you this, I would.
Captures US-trained rebels
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Syria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, Nusra Front, abducts five rebels believed to have been trained by the United States after raiding areas along the Turkish border. The militant group is now holding a total of 13 men from ‘Division 30.’ It is not immediately clear whether the five men abducted overnight had been on the new U.S. military training programme or on an existing, separate CIA-led program. Pentagon spokesperson says the United States remains committed to defending the Syrian fighters, including against the threat from Nusra Front. There is no official reaction from the Syrian government, but a source says:
[The U.S.] relayed a message to Damascus not to worry about these statements. It’s about hitting Al-Nusra hard, not the Syrian army.
Family statement
Bland’s family issues a statement about their suit, saying it was a last resort after being unable to get enough information about the case.
The bottom line is she never should have been inside the jail cell. Period. [She] knew enough about Jesus that she wouldn’t hang herself, and her feelings as a mother say her daughter didn’t. But anything is possible. Now I’m the first one to tell you, if the facts … show without a doubt that that was the case, I’ll have to be prepared to deal with that.
US considers lifting Leahy Law
Congressman Issa tells military authorities in the Nigerian capital Abuja that the US is considering whether to relax or completely lift the ban to improve Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram.
This is because of the trust in the new regime which has begun the process of ensuring that the military’s professionalism in the battle field is made in a way that we all can be confident that the rule of law is followed. Following this development, we have begun the process of lifting restrictions under the Leahy Law but the vast majority of the support US provides will be given regardless of the restrictions.
Redirects released tel number
After Gawker publishes Trump’s phone number, Trump changes the message to his campaign message.
Hi, this is Donald Trump and I’m running for the Presidency of the United States of America. With your help and support, together, we can make America truly great again. Visit me at Twitter @RealDonaldTrump and check out my campaign website www.donaldjtrump.com. Hope to see you on the campaign trail, we’re going to do it.
Thank you @gawker! Call me on my cellphone 917.756.8000 and listen to my campaign message.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2015
Debris confirmed from MH370
French investigators confirm the airplane part found on Reunion is a piece of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, saying there are “very strong presumptions” that the part belonged to Flight 370, though additional checks would be carried out. He also said that “technical documentation” provided by Malaysia Airlines enabled experts to establish “common technical characteristics” between the debris and the flaperons on Flight 370. Malaysian PM Razak:
Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Réunion Island is indeed from MH370.
U.S. offers $5 million reward
The U.S. State Department offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Guzman. The tip line is being managed by the DEA’s San Diego field office.
Rosenberg, acting head of the DEA, says Guzman is most likely in Mexico, hiding in his home state of Sinaloa, Mexico. But Rosenberg acknowledged that the elusive Guzman could be anywhere.
I think he is still in Mexico. Do I know that? No. It’s an educated guess.
Police sabotage demonstration
Police sabotage a demonstration organised by lobby group, the Democracy Advocate Initiative Trust, against President Mugabe’s ‘misrule’ which has caused the ‘suffering of citizens’. The organisation had planned to march from the capital’s Market Square bus terminus to Parliament where they intended to hand over a petition. Group founder:
We approached the police, their Police Internal Security intelligence (PISI) last week and handed over our application for the march as required by the law. Today in the morning we went there (Harare Central Police station) and they said they were going to come back to us. We obeyed their order and went back. We then called them after realizing that the time we had planned to march was lapsing but they never called us back.
Organisers say the Police are using old laws which require organisers of public gatherings to give them at least one week notice before holding their meetings to prevent opposition political parties and pro-democracy movements from holding meetings with ordinary citizens.
We are not going to be stopped by the police from handing over the petition which has many issues which we want to be urgently addressed. People are being sacked from employment but the President is not acting. Vendors are being harassed for trying to earn a living. Government promised jobs but what we are seeing is the reverse of their promises. So we are saying President Robert Mugabe should go, and that is the aim of the march and the petition.
Report: Some members want dialogue
The Centre for Crisis Communication says some elements of Boko Haram have reached out to the centre to facilitate dialogue with the federal government to end the insurgency in the country. The Center says that while the option of dialogue with the group is a hard sell, the window opened recently by President Buhari on the possibility of dialogue with genuine members of the terrorist group rekindled the hope for dialogue.
However the founder of Future Prowess Islamic Foundation, which takes care of hundreds of children, including those that lost their parents as a result of the Boko Haram crisis says several mistakes were made in the past and urged the government to trade softly.
We had phantom offers of dialogue in the past that did not yield any positive result and we must not complicate the issue any further. Government and our security forces must not give room for scammers. The real Boko Haram terrorists are in the hinterland; the way they operate is different. Yes, some members or foot soldiers of the Boko Haram may offer themselves available for dialogue but do they have the capacity to make any impact? Do they have the outreach to stop the mayhem we are experiencing? Do they have the ware withal to tell their members to lay down their arms? The answer is no. Our security agents must use their knowledge of intelligence to verify the identity of those that make the recent offer so that resources would not be wasted for a fruitless exercise.