Sends message to Trump
Pitbull mentions Trump after accepting an award at Premios Juventud, a Univision awards ceremony:
Watch out for El Chapo! I had a different idea of this man, I want to tell him, look, I’m not a politician, I’m a musician, but most of all I’m Latino.
He then calls on Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton:
Step it up. Because Donald Trump cannot be president!
Charon mountain
NASA shares a close-up photo of Pluto’s moon Charon showing a large mountain in a deep depression that is puzzling scientists.
The most intriguing feature is a large mountain sitting in a moat. This is a feature that has geologists stunned and stumped. It looks like someone just dropped a giant boulder on Charon.
Claim: Funds anti-climate politicians, lobbyists
Despite a 2007 promise to stop funding anti Climate Change researchers and activist groups, Greenpeace claims that ExxonMobil has paid $1.87 million for every Republican in Congress who actively denies climate change. An additional $454,000 went to ALEC. In an email response to The Guardian newspaper the Company says:
ExxonMobil does not fund climate denial…We are taking action in a range of ways – by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our operations, helping consumers reduce their emissions, and by supporting research at leading US universities into both increased emissions reduction capability and research into alternative energy sources…I don’t believe we underwrite specific Alec functions, and, as should be abundantly clear from my past statements to you, we believe climate change is real and warrants action, we’re taking steps to address it, which I’ve also provided you voluminous detail on, and we don’t embrace the views of those who deny climate change or think it isn’t a serious matter…Because The Guardian has abandoned objective journalism and has a clear agenda regarding climate change, it can no longer be trusted to do the job its readers have a right to expect, which is to provide accurate and unbiased coverage on this important topic.
Canada ‘Most Admired’ country
Canada is the “most admired” country with the “best reputation” in the world, according to the 2015 annual report released by the Reputation Institute based on a variety of environmental, political, and economic factors. Institute:
We all love Canada because of several things. Overall, Canada is a country that can offer something good in all different aspects.
Lost cool meeting Aniston
Watt says he completely lost his cool while meeting his Aniston, his lifelong celebrity crush, at their talent agency.
It was incredible. She was so sweet. She was awesome. Everybody has kind of known for a long time that she was the one person that I’ve wanted to meet… And she was really sweet and awesome and I’m thankful that she was so cool because I was not. If I went back – if there was like a tape of it and I could watch it again, there are many things that I would do differently. But no, I shook her hand and we had a conversation, so I don’t think that I completely botched it. But she was very sweet and I had a good time.
Facebook account hacked
Koirala’s Facebook account is hacked. Random messages are being sent from her account.
If u get any messages from me pl don't open it..I have not sent u Amy msg.. It's a Virus… Someone has hacked… http://t.co/c84se7NjET
— Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) July 16, 2015
Calls for Planned Parenthood investigation
Boehner seeks to investigate Planned Parenthood’s alleged sale of organs from aborted fetuses.
At my request our committees have begun looking at some of the gruesome practices embraced by Planned Parenthood. I am also demanding that the President denounce and stop these practices. If you’ve seen this video I don’t have to tell you how sickening it is. So rest assured we are going to get to the bottom of this…It’s disgusting.
Different ices
The New Horizons team release a composite photo showing different methane ice accumulations over Pluto’s surface. The photo is compiled using RALPH’s 256 infrared wavelengths overlaying a LORRI basemap.
All I’m showing is the diversity of terrains. The ices do have distinct properties, different melting points.
Obama comments on Cosby
In a White House press conference, Obama says:
There’s no precedent for revoking a medal. We don’t have that mechanism…If you give a woman — or a man, for that matter — without his or her knowledge a drug and then have sex with that person without consent, that’s rape.
To visit U.S. over Iran deal
Israeli opposition leader, Herzog, will visit the U.S. to discuss the reasons for his country’s adversarial position to the Iran nuclear deal, and concerns regarding the safety of Israel. In a videotaped statement Herzog says he is going to the U.S.:
To ask that Israel gets a security umbrella and a series of steps to allow Israel to maintain its advantage in the region due to the new reality coming out of the deal
Vows to drop music from streaming services
Young vows to take his music off “all streaming services” due to issues he has with their sound quality, Young’s PonoMusic claims downloads CD quality (1,411 kbps) or better (9,216 kbps for ultra-high resolution recordings), but most streaming music, such as Spotify, Google Play and Apple Music, downloads at 320kbps. Tidal’s hi-end plan’s 1,411kbps is close to CD-quality.
Streaming has ended for me. I hope this is ok for my fans. It’s not because of the money, although my share (like all the other artists) was dramatically reduced by bad deals made without my consent. It’s about sound quality. I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution. I don’t feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It’s bad for my music. For me, It’s about making and distributing music people can really hear and feel. I stand for that. When the quality is back, I’ll give it another look. Never say never.
In a follow-up message, Young criticizes streaming further:
I was there. AM radio kicked streaming’s ass. Analog Cassettes and 8 tracks also kicked streaming’s ass, and absolutely rocked compared to streaming. Streaming sucks. Streaming is the worst audio in history. If you want it, you got it. It’s here to stay. Your choice. Copy my songs if you want to. That’s free. Your choice. All my music, my life’s work, is what I am preserving the way I want it to be. It’s already started. My music is being removed from all streaming services. It’s not good enough to sell or rent. Make streaming sound good and I will be back.
Defends Iran nuclear deal
President Obama defends the nuclear deal brokered with Iran, at a White House Press Corp meeting, arguing that the only way of assuring Iran not obtain a nuclear weapon is the agreement between the United States, Iran, and five other countries. The deal obtains assurances from Iran to stop and immediately downsize its nuclear program. In exchange, all previous sanctions are lifted.
This is the most vigorous inspection and verification deal that has ever been negotiated. The bottom line is this. This nuclear deal meets the national security interests of the United States and our allies. It prevents the most serious threat of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon… that’s why this deal makes our country safer and secure.
Vigorous congressional debate on the deal is expected, with some efforts to block it. President Obama promises to veto any attempts to nullify the treaty.
I expect the debate to be robust, and that’s how it should be. This is an important issue. I hope we don’t lose sight of the larger picture — the opportunity that this agreement represents.
Paid 10% of similar male role
Seyfried says she was recently paid just ten per cent of a male co-star’s salary in a film. She does not disclose the movie — which could have been anything from Dear John with Channing Tatum to Les Miserables with Eddie Redmayne — but said that she and the actor were “pretty even in status” and should have received more equal salaries.
I think people think that just because I’m easy going and game to do things, I’ll just take as little as they offer. It’s not about how much you get, it’s about how fair it is.
Seyfried believes that every actress should fight for equal rights but that being willing to walk away from something is “an individual choice”.
Discovers ice mountains
Scientists share the first high-resolution images of Pluto’s surface taken by New Horizons, showing ice mountains 11,000 ft high. Pluto’s thin coating of methane, carbon monoxide and nitrogen ice on Pluto’s surface was not strong enough to form mountains — the scientist believe they are probably composed of Pluto’s water-ice bedrock
Mission scientists say the image show a terrain that had been resurfaced by some geological process – such as volcanism – within the last 100 million years.
We have not found a single impact crater on this image. This means it must be a very young surface.
This active geology needs some source of heat. Previously, such activity has only been seen on icy moons, where it can be explained by “tidal heating” caused by gravitational interactions with a large host planet.
You do not need tidal heating to power geological activity on icy worlds. That’s a really important discovery we just made this morning.
Declares $10 billion net worth
Trump files Personal filing of Financial Disclosure (PFD) forms with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) declaring his net worth to be $10 billion, up from the $8.7 billion he claimed in his presidential announcement, which he attributes to rising real estate prices.
First people said I would never run, and I did. Then, they said, I would never file my statement of candidacy with the FEC, and I did. Next, they said I would never file my personal financial disclosure forms. I filed them early despite the fact that I am allowed two 45 days extensions. Now I have surged in the polls and am fighting to Make America Great Again. I will make the United States rich and strong and respected again, but also a country with a ‘big heart’ toward the care of our people.
The statement also reveals he was paid $213 million for 14 seasons of The Apprentice.
GQ cover
GQ magazine’s August cover depicts Schumer dressed as Star Wars’ Princess Leia in the Return of the Jedi bikini-top, with C-3PO’s finger in her mouth, declaring her “The Funniest Woman in the Galaxy.” Similar photos by photographer Mark Seliger are available for viewing now on the magazine’s site.
Comment just ‘hyperbole’
Eisenberg clarifies that his “genocide” comment was nothing more than hyperbole.
I of course was using hyperbole to describe the sensory overload I experienced. I sometimes do employ that. I’m a normal person who has normal sensory experiences, so Comic-Con was very overwhelming for me. That said, it was really an honor to be on that end of such jubilation.
Issues profit warning as advertisers cut spending
Johnston Press reports that full-year profits would be down by around 5.5% and half year profits by around 5% after it saw a fall in advertising revenues and circulation sales in the 26 weeks to 4 July 2015. The company said advertisers chose to hold off and slash spending across print and online amid the uncertainty caused by the election. The share price falls by more than 16%. CEO Highfield:
Trading conditions in the first half of 2015 have undoubtedly been challenging, especially in the period around the general election – a time when there was also a high degree of uncertainty in the wider market.
Congratulates Iran
Assad sends a personal letter of congratulations to Iranian Supreme Leader, celebrating the occasion of a nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 world powers. Assad calls the nuclear agreement a turning point for Iran. Assad says in a message to Iran;
We are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran will support, with greater drive, just causes of nations and work for peace and stability in the region and the world…In the name of the Syrian people, I congratulate you and the people of Iran on this historic achievement, This deal provides clear recognition on the part of the world powers of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program
Apologizes for ‘tone and statements’
Planned Parenthood releases a statement on the undercover video:
In health care, patients sometimes want to donate tissue to scientific research that can help lead to medical breakthroughs, such as treatments and cures for serious diseases. Women at Planned Parenthood who have abortions are no different. At several of our health centers, we help patients who want to donate tissue for scientific research, and we do this just like every other high-quality health care provider does — with full, appropriate consent from patients and under the highest ethical and legal standards. There is no financial benefit for tissue donation for either the patient or for Planned Parenthood. In some instances, actual costs, such as the cost to transport tissue to leading research centers, are reimbursed, which is standard across the medical field…A well funded group established for the purpose of damaging Planned Parenthood’s mission and services has promoted a heavily edited, secretly recorded videotape that falsely portrays Planned Parenthood’s participation in tissue donation programs that support lifesaving scientific research.
The organization also releases a video apology by Richards:
Our top priority is the compassionate care we provide. In the video one of our staff member speaks in a way that does not reflect that compassion. This is unacceptable and I personally apologize for the staff members tone and statements…We know the real agenda of organizations behind video like that, and they have never been concerned of protecting the health and safety of women. Their mission is to ban abortion completely…and we will never let that happen.
