Showers Blatter with cash
During a press conference in Zurich, Nelson approaches Blatter with two wads of cash in his hands, saying the cash is to support North Korea’s bid for the 2026 World Cup. When Blatter asks for security, Daniels tosses the wad of bills in the air and they float all around Blatter. The comedian is removed from the stage. Blatter:
I just called my late mother, and she said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s just a lack of education.’
DOD clears path for women in combat
In a joint press conference and signing ceremony, Secretary Panetta and Gen. Dempsey announce the decision to rescind the ban on women serving in direct combat roles. The Secretary directs the process to be completed by Jan 1, 2016.
Today we are acting to expand the opportunities for women to serve in the United States armed forces and to better align our policies with the experiences we have had over the past decade of war. Ultimately, we’re acting to strengthen the joint force.
Press conference
The team announces Maddon as their manager.
At the end of the day, unless we are aligned perfectly it’s not going to work. It just can’t work. That’s the way the game has evolved to this point. The autocratic manager of yesteryear has gone. It’s not just about one guy any more…to be philosophically aligned with these guys is important to me.
Opening night starter
Gray will be the opening night starter against the Texas Rangers for second consecutive year. Coach Melvin:
I do have a big announcement today. You guys may want to sit down…It was a matter of letting [Gray] know for sure. But I mean, he’s made for this. It’s who he is. He’s extremely competitive. He’s talented. He loves the spotlight games. If anyone was made for it, it was him.
‘We don’t play hard all the time. And that’s a problem.’
After the Mavericks’ loss to the Phoenix Suns, Carlisle rips into his team. He said the team didn’t show up in the first half of the game and that was flat-out embarrassing. The Mavs are 8-8 since the All-Star break. Seven of those losses have been decided by ten or more points.
This is a Dallas Mavericks hard-play problem, all right? We don’t play hard all the time. And that’s a problem…It’s pretty clear that’s where our inconsistency is, and we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to be a more together team. I believe that we can do it. We did it in the second half, but it’s work. It takes effort. It takes effort in the locker room, it takes sacrifice, and we’ve got to be willing to do those things.
Accuse Cosby of sexual assault
Welles and Shapiro have come forward claiming comedian Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them while they were teenagers. Welles said she was a 17-year-old aspiring singer when she met Cosby in Hollywood. Welles:
He was a star. He was Bill Cosby and I buried it in my memory until all of these brave women began to come forward.
Shapiro said when she met Cosby, she was 19 and working at a donut shop in Santa Monica. She claims Cosby drove her to his place, where she took a box of matches inscribed with his name. They went to the Playboy mansion, and she took a pill after losing a bet with Cosby. She reportedly woke up with him (Bill Cosby) laying on top of her, sexually assaulting her. Shapiro presented the box of matches as evidence during the press conference.
Remains search ends
Investigations for recovering human remains and wreckage from MH17 crash site ends. Mission head:
We have done everything humanly possible…Many more body parts were recovered over the past two weeks in the search near Petropavlivka, about 10 kilometers (six miles) west of Grabove where most of the debris fell….Many personal belongings like watches, passports… and other documents that is of great value to the victims’ families were also recovered.
Three agencies report El Nino return
Three meteorological agencies on the Pacific Rim (The Australian Bureau of Meteorology, United States Climate Prediction Centre and Japan Meteorological Agency) agree that the El Nino weather phenomenon, which can spark deadly and costly climate extremes, will return strongly this year. The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecast that it would continue into late 2015, but there is no consensus between the three agencies over how long it will last, as they each have their own criteria for the phenomena. Commercial forecasters also have their own opinions, which also diverge. The U.S. Climate Prediction Centre says there is a 70 percent chance the pattern will continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer. The Australian weather bureau says:
We know that once an El Nino event’s established, it’s very likely to last through to the end of the year.
Agrees with U.S. policy on Iraq
At a news conference in New Hampshipre Clinton speaks on the U.S. handling of Iraq.
I think it’s a very difficult situation and I basically agree with the policies that we are currently following, and that is, American air support is available. American intelligence and surveillance is available.
American trainers are trying to undo the damage that was done to the Iraqi army by former prime minister Maliki, who bears a very big part of the responsibility for what is happening inside of Iraq today.
This has to be fought by and won by Iraqis. There is no role whatsoever for American soldiers on the ground to go back, other than in the capacity as trainers and advisers.
ESPN interview
James explains the Cavaliers NBA Finals loss and reviews the season:
It’s never a success if you go out losing. But I think we put ourselves back where this franchise needs to be, being a contender. But we’ve still got a lot of work to do…It hurts me to know that I wish I could have done better and done more and just put a little bit more effort or whatever the case may be to help us get over the hump. But it just wasn’t our time…I knew it was going to be a tough task, and I continued to tell you guys we were undermanned…I don’t even know if it’s ever happened, for a team to lose two All‑Stars and still be able to make it to The Finals…I put my body through a lot, you know, but it’s the price for your body feeling this way for winning…I didn’t win a championship, but I’ve done a lot of good things in this first year back, and hopefully I can continue it.
Releases Marikana report
Almost three years since 34 men were shot dead on a hillside by South African Police, following the death of 10 other people, including police officers and mine security staff, Zuma releases the Marikana Report. the report calls for an investigation into the National Police Commissioner’s fitness to hold office. The commission also recommends that the North West Provincial Commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo, be investigated as well.
I have written to the national commissioner to inform her of the recommendations pertaining to her…The commission recommends a full investigation…with a view to ascertaining criminal liability on the part of all members of the SAPS members who were involved.
The commission largely cleared members of the executive for their role in the shooting, saying Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa did not cause the shooting. Zuma:
The commission found that the executive played no role in the decision of the police to implement the tactical role.
It said the deaths of 10 people, ahead of the massacre should be criminally investigated. The Marikana workers are unhappy about being given such short notice of Zuma’s conference, but do not contest it as they want what they term the truth, to be released.
News conference
Prime Minister Essid, responds to the recent terrorist attack by announcing additional security measures and asking the people of Tunisia to work together to get through the crisis. According to the Prime Minister, crucial security upgrades that must be put into place immediately include:
examining the funding of organisations suspected of promoting radicalism, closing about 80 renegade mosques outside government control and declaring certain mountainous zones military areas and calling up army reservists…The fight against terrorism is a national responsibility. We are at war against terrorism which represents a serious danger to national unity during this delicate period that the nation is going through.
Meets families of illegal immigrant victims
In Los Angeles Trump meets with families whose loved ones were killed by undocumented immigrants, saying U.S. immigration policy has allowed criminals from other countries to find sanctuary in American borders. The participants held up pictures with details of their deceased family members, saying the United States’ immigration system allowed the assailants to enter the country illegally, and then got away with little to no jail time. Trump:
People came into the country illegally and killed their children. It’s a very sad thing that’s happened to our country.
Family member:
All I was hearing was ‘Well, these people work, they contribute, they have to take their kids to school. Like that was a reason that it was okay that they killed people.
Katniss ‘part of me’
At Comic-Con, Lawrence talks about saying goodbye to her most iconic character, Katniss.
I don’t feel like it’s happened yet. It’s still such a big part of my life. These movies really did change my life. The people who are in my life…you guys challenged me. I love you. I think that the changes that happened in my life are so permanent that I don’t think I’ll ever really say goodbye to her. She feels like she’s part of me.
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.
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.
Visits Oklahoma federal prison
Obama is first sitting president to visit a federal prison. During his visit he suggests that under different circumstances, he could have been a prison inmate:
When they describe their youth, these are young people who made mistakes that aren’t that different from the mistakes I made, and the mistakes that a lot of you guys made. The difference is that they did not have the kind of support structures, the second chances, the resources that would allow them to survive those mistakes… That’s what strikes me — there but for the grace of God.
Talks about divorce difficulties
Paltrow talks about her divorce in an interview at the BlogHer15 conference in New York:
We’ve gone through really difficult times with it, but we’ve always said these children are our priority, so what that means is, even though today you hate me and never wanna see me again, we’re going to brunch because it’s Sunday and that’s what we do…Unfortunately, even though we couldn’t stay in a romantic relationship, our values are very much around the importance of family and those relationships.
Visits U.S. – Mexico border
Trump visits the U.S. border with Mexico and says he will not apologize for his comments on illegal immigration or back away from his plan to build a wall between the two countries. Trump wears a blazer, white dress shoes and a white ball cap emblazoned with his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” Border Patrol agents who had invited Trump back out, citing the appearance of politicization. Trump accuses unnamed officials in Washington of trying to silence them. When questioned by a Telemundo journalist about his comments on immigration:
No, no, no. We’re talking about illegal immigration and everybody understands that. And you know what: that’s a typical case — wait, that’s a typical case of the press with misinterpretation. They take a half a sentence — they take a half a sentence, then they take quarter of a sentence and put it all together. It’s a typical thing.
‘An awful night for Louisiana’
Louisiana Gov. Jindal speaks from just outside a Lafayette movie theater after the shooting.
This is an awful night for Lafayette. This is an awful night for Louisiana. This is an awful night for the United States. But we will get through this.
Jindal also says that two of the patrons in the theater were schoolteacher friends, one of whom may have shielded the other from a fatal bullet — and one who likely saved even more lives.
One of the teachers jumped on top of the second teacher in an act of braveness. Both teachers got shot but the second one, the one who got saved, even though she got shot she had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm and save other lives
