Mother: Gordon ‘devastated’
Gordon’s mother speaks on behalf of her son:
The passing of Bobbi Kristina is devastating to Nick and our family. Nick loved and cared for Krissi deeply, and he has suffered greatly each and every day they’ve been apart. Nick and our family are in mourning, and we ask that you respect our privacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with both the Houstons and the Browns during this difficult time.
Ends ban on gay scout leaders
The organization votes to end its ban on openly gay scout leaders with approval of 79 percent of the board. Scouting units can still reject gay applicants if it violates the unit’s religious beliefs.
The best way to allow BSA to continue to focus on its mission and preserve its core values, was to address the issue and set our own course, and that’s what we’ve done. On Monday, July 27th the national executive board ratified a resolution removing the national restriction on openly gay leaders and employees. This follows the recommendation of the national executive committee which adopted the resolution earlier in July.
Outside attorneys to aid death probe
The Waller County prosecutor investigating Bland’s death says outside attorneys will help with the probe, which likely will go to a county grand jury in August. A former prosecutor and a defense attorney, and a Houston attorney will lead a review committee in asking the “hard questions.” Prosecutor:
There are many lingering questions regarding the death of Sandra Bland.
West praises Jenner
West and Kardashian meet with Jenner for the first time following her transition on E!’s I Am Cait. West:
One of the strongest things that have happened in our existence as human beings that are controlled by perception. You couldn’t have been up against more: Like, your daughter is a supermodel, you’re a celebrity, you have every type of thing, and it was still like, ‘f— everybody, this is who I am.’
Airport is sinking
Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s new $1 billion budget passenger terminal is sinking, with cracks appearing in the taxiway and water forming pools that planes must drive through. The defects could cause flight delays, increase wear and tear on planes and pose potential safety risks. Though take offs and landings aren’t affected, the carrier has asked Malaysian authorities to fix the problems before passengers get hurt. AirAsia CEO:
The airport is still sinking, The operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. has done some partial resurfacing, but what the airport actually needs is a permanent solution.
Since MH370, a lot of shortcomings have been found in Malaysia’s aviation infrastructure. The authorities haven’t done enough to address these shortcomings, not enough to put them on par with the First World.
To be buried alongside mother
A family source says Kristina’s funeral service this week in Atlanta, Ga., her body will be flown to New Jersey where she will be buried alongside her mother in Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.
Urges press freedom in Ethiopia
Obama urges Ethiopia’s leaders to curb crackdowns on press freedom and political openness as he begins a visit that human rights groups say legitimizes an oppressive government. Obama’s trip marks the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to Ethiopia, a fast-growing economy once defined by poverty and famine.
When all voices are being heard, when people know they are being included in the political process, that makes a country more successful.
‘Rude pig’ Instagram
Eight years after her father made headlines for calling her a rude, thoughtless little pig in a leaked voicemail, Ireland posts a photo of herself sitting close to her father, looking over his shoulder as he reads from a children’s book called If I Were a Pig…
https://instagram.com/p/5nBEnUEoC0/?taken-by=irelandbbaldwin
Will not return to Sweden
Dogg vows that he will not return to Sweden via tweet:
2 all my sweden fans U can blame YA police dept for never seeing me again in your beautiful country… https://t.co/B9bMVP1R1i
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) July 26, 2015
Reassures fans
Dogg posts another Instagram videos reassuring his fans about his detention.
As Mr Farrakhan says it’s better to be searched and found with nothing than not searched at all.
https://instagram.com/p/5mgatwP9Oo/
Comments on split
While hosting a party at 1OAK Nightclub in Las Vegas, Disick speaks for the first time about his breakup with Kardashian.
[I’m] just taking it one day at a time. With everything going on right now, I need to be positive for myself.
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.
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.
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.