Discuses VF article
Jenner, Carter and others who worked on the Vanity Fair cover and article talk about their work in a behind-the-scenes short film. Carter:
He was at a stage in his life where he was going to make this seismic change. I thought this cover, if we got it right, with a great image from Annie Leibovitz, you’ve got this incredible cresting political issue of transgender…We brought in the security that we use for the Oscar party, for the Whitehouse Correspondents’ Dinner,” Carter explained. “We had security at the photoshoot, security at the printer.
Jenner:
I’ve basically been inside this house for three months. I haven’t really left. It’s difficult because I can’t go out and be seen by the paparazzi. It was just hell. It was really, really tough on me…It’s been great, so many good people, and love and support. I had this one time where I looked from a distance and I just thought, ‘Oh my god!’ It was the first time I’d ever really seen an image of me, who I am. Over-the-top better than I ever thought I’d ever be, especially at my age. Seeing that image was powerful to me.
Perry: Bland death did not follow protocol
Perry says that it is clear that the trooper involved did not follow protocol:
Well, obviously, I don’t think they followed protocol. I think that has been from the very early viewing of that camera that there was not proper protocol followed there. And this is going to be investigated, as it should. And transparency is really important in this process. So that all the citizens of the state of Texas know that this has been appropriately investigated, and if it’s found that the individuals made errors, then that that needs to be addressed and addressed in appropriate way
Cruz on Tisha b’Av
Cruz sends a message to his Jewish supporters on the day of Tisha B’Av in which he compares the Iran nuclear deal to the same danger that led to the destruction of the two ancient Jewish temples:
To all those observing the mourning of Tisha B’Av, I wish you a time of meaningful reflection on the destruction of the holy Temples and the calamities that befell our Jewish brothers on this day. As our Jewish friends hope for the rebuilding of the Temple speedily in our days, I share their joy in the establishment of a Jewish State after 2,000 years of exile. Especially today, with stakes so high, we can never allow there to be a threat to Israel’s destruction. We must furiously fight the Iran deal that puts Israel in jeopardy so that we may never again mourn the destruction of the Jewish State.
Comments on Cruise plane stunt
Pegg and the film’s director, McQuarrie talk about Cruise’s plane stunt in Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation. In the stunt Cruise, as superspy Ethan Hunt, runs along the wing of an Airbus A400 military transport aircraft, then leaps to a side door on the fuselage and hangs on while the aircraft takes off. Pegg:
When you see the movie, you know he survived because he’s been doing press for it and there’s been no national mourning. But when you’re actually on the ground and watching him on the plane, there’s a whole other degree of terror because you don’t know how it will turn out.
McQuarrie says Cruise’s safety and harness were rigorously tested and that the actor had to wear special contact lenses to keep the wind shear from blasting out his eyeballs.
We were never thinking about, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to fall. We were thinking about the rock that was going to kill him on takeoff or the bird strike that was going to kill him or the unexpected acceleration that was going to kill him. Even the tiniest grain is going to get sucked through the propellers and fired back right at Tom. And in one case a piece of debris hit him in the chest and the only thing that was there to absorb it was the safety harness. It was so tiny, it was like a grain of salt, but he said it felt like a bullet was hitting him in the chest. Now if a larger rock hit him in the chest or smaller debris hit him in the face, then the show’s over.
Stunt coordinator:
We could have certainly done (a version of the stunt) with a green screen and giant fans. The studio probably would have been happier. But don’t ever mention the words ‘green screen’ around Tom Cruise.
Israel says ‘threats’ won’t stop opposition
Israeli officials call comments from Senator Kerry that Israel will be even more isolated internationally should Congress fail to pass the Iran nuclear agreement a “thinly veiled efforts to muzzle criticism”. Israeli officials state they will not stop publicly lobbying against the nuclear agreement with Iran.
We reject the threats directed at Israel in recent days.
Speaks about Bland’s death
Lynch says Bland’s in-custody death in Texas and the dash-cam video of her arrest underscore long-held fears many black Americans have about interactions with police:
We have a situation where many minority communities for so long have felt that law enforcement was coming in essentially to enforce laws against them, not to protect them. I do think that what has been a important part of the debate in Bland’s death has been the discussions that we’ve seen from community members and police leaders alike…about the importance of training and deescalating incidents.
‘Never sent classified information’
Clinton says she did not send classified emails from her private server while she was secretary of state.
I am confident that I never sent nor received any information that was classified at the time it was sent and received.
Clinton says has no idea what are the four specific emails the inspector general us talking about in his letter to Congress.
But the facts are pretty clear. I did not send or receive anything that was classified at the time. The vast majority of anything that I sent or received was already on the State Department system, the unclassified State Department system. In order to respond to freedom of information requests, you’d have to go through the same process.
Security council MH17 vote set
The UN Security Council is set to vote on whether to set up an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of bringing down Malaysia Airlines MH17. Russian ambassador:
Malaysia did include some language from our draft in their draft text but it did not go to the core of our concern, they kept insisting on the need to establish right now an international criminal court. This is not a proper thing for the Security Council to do because it’s not a case of a threat to international peace and security.
Says Blatter deserves Nobel prize
Putin praises Blatter in an interview by the Swiss broadcaster RTS:
We all know the situation developing around Mr Blatter right now. I don’t want to go into details but I don’t believe a word about him being involved in corruptiton personally. I think people like Mr Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel prize, it’s those people.
Claims Obama ‘marching Israel to ovens’
Huckabee says the Iran Nuclear Agreement will result in similar outcomes to the Holocaust for Israel.
It is so naive that he would trust the Iranians. By doing so, he will take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven. This is the most idiotic thing, this Iran deal. It should be rejected by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress and by the American people. I read the whole deal. We gave away the whole store. It’s got to be stopped.
Criticizes EU on immigration
Speaking at a cultural festival in Romania, Hungarian PM Orban, says the European Union is not doing enough to defend citizens from refugees from Africa. Hungary has registered more than 80,000 illegal migrants so far this year, nearly double the number for all of last year, according to official data. Orban says that mass immigration will deteriorate European lifestyles, cultures, and values, and blames illegal migrants for rising crime rates and economic problems.
For us, today Europe is at stake. The survival, disappearance or, more precisely, the transformation beyond recognition of the European citizen’s lifestyle, European values and the European nations. The question now is not only what kind of Europe we Hungarians would like to live in. Rather, will all that we now call Europe exist at all?..It is clear that we can’t filter out the hostile terrorists in the huge crowds. We would like for Europe to keep belonging to the Europeans. We want to preserve the Hungarian Hungary…The really serious threats are arriving not from the war zones … but from the depths of Africa. Northern Africa today can no longer defend Europe from the immense masses of people.
Foreign insurers consider Iran
Foreign insurers are considering Iranian markets as an acceptable risk now that the Iran Nuclear Agreement has been agreed to by world powers. These specialty insurers remain a little hesitant however, as there is no way to predict when the $8 billion dollars in frozen funds will be released. U.S. Congress still needing to vote on the issue so insurance companies are mostly watching and waiting on the sidelines although each is eager to be the first to cover their market when the funds do become available. Insurer:
Historically we have dealt with Iran; it’s interesting to see what’s happening there. From a marine perspective, there are some large ship owners in Iran. There are lots of cargo, port terminals.
Kenya visit tensions
Obama’s push for gay rights in Kenya causes some debate while Kenyatta refuses to change laws involving homosexuality. There are also some tense moments between Obama and Kenyatta over other topics like U.S. aid. Many Kenyans also believe that Obama is not implementing enough American aid programs, whereas Obama does not want other African countries to believe he is playing favorites. Obama:
When you start treating people differently, not because of any harm they’re doing to anybody, but because they are different, that’s the path whereby freedoms begin to erode and bad things happen
Kenyatta:
There are some things we must admit we don’t share, [that] our culture, our societies don’t accept. It’s very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept.
Obtained Quaaludes from gynecologist
In the Constand depositions, Cosby admits his Quaalude prescriptions were written by Los Angeles gynecologist and cosmetic surgeon, Leroy Amar.
Attorney: Did he know when he gave you those prescriptions that you had no intention of taking them?
Cosby: Yes. (It is not clear from the deposition how the doctor would have known that)
Attorney: Did you believe at the time that it was illegal for you to dispense those drugs?
Cosby: Yes.
While Cosby admits that he acquired seven prescriptions of Quaaludes with the intent to give the sedatives to young women he wanted to have sex with, he does not admit to actually drugging any women.
Hindustan Times profile
The Hindustan Times profiles Naik who says that despite his success, he only earns Rs 15,000 a month, and that not a single official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come forward so far to help him.
Despite representing India for 13 years, I don’t get any money for playing cricket. It’s my NGO, Samarthanam, where I work as a sports co-ordinator, which pays me Rs 15,000 as monthly salary. Despite my contribution to Indian cricket over the years, I am still waiting for a government job. The salary I draw is not enough for sustenance.
He says his dream is to meet India batsman Virender Sehwag:
I wish I could meet him one day. I would like to invite Sehwag for the next T20 World Cup.
China protests Japan visit
China shows says it is upset about Japan’s decision to host Lee, an opponent of the integration of Taiwan with the mainland. Spokesperson:
We urge the Japanese side to abide by the principles enshrined in the four political documents signed by China and Japan, including the China-Japan Joint Statement, and fulfill its solemn commitments to China. We strongly oppose any country providing a stage for ‘Taiwan independence’ activities and take strong umbrage at Japan allowing Lee to visit. Lee’s contemptible acts have made compatriots from both sides see more clearly the extreme harms ‘Taiwan independence’ forces do to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the integral benefit of the Chinese nation, and will surely be scorned by compatriots from both sides.
Blackberry secure messaging closure
The Pakistani government plans to shut down BlackBerry secure messaging services from December 1, for security reasons. BlackBerry encrypts data such as emails and its BlackBerry Messenger messages sent between a user’s phone and public networks, ensuring greater privacy for users but making life harder for police and intelligence agencies. According to a report. Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the II, wants to have easier access to electronic communications.
First americans came from Siberia
A University of California study dismisses the popular idea that Native Americans draw their genetic heritage from Polynesians or European peoples. It says the first humans to reach the Americas came from Siberia in a single group some 23,000 years ago, at the height of the last Ice Age. On their way to Alaska, they hung around in the northern regions for a few thousands of years before moving deeper into North and South America.
There is some uncertainty in the dates of the migration and the divergence between the northern and southern Amerindian populations. But as we get more ancient genomes sequenced, we will be able to put more precise dates on the times of migration.
Mangroves against sea level rise
Mangrove forests could play a crucial role in protecting coastal areas from sea level rise caused by climate change, according to new research involving the University of Southampton and University of Auckland.
Mangroves appear to be resilient to sea level rise and are likely to be able to sustain such climatic change. The implications for the New Zealand coastline are considerable and will require new thinking in terms of sediment budgets and response to climatic changes,
EMP-Earthquake link challenge
A NASA challenge is looking for evidence to support a theory that electromagnetic pulses (EMP) may precede an earthquake, potentially offering a warning to those in a temblor`s path. A two-week algorithm challenge seeks to develop new software codes to search through data and identify electromagnetic pulses that may precede an earthquake. Contestants will be provided with electromagnetic signal data collected over three-month duration from multiple sensors in the proximity of past earthquakes. NASA:
Developing a reliable approach that can separate potential earthquake-induced electromagnetic pulses from the myriad of natural and anthropogenic sources has been a significant challenge. We look forward to seeing the innovative ideas from this competition and learning more about this controversial phenomenon.