Rejects legalization
Buhari informs United States lawmakers that Nigeria cannot shift its anti-gay stance. Speaking at the joint session of U.S. Senate and House Committees on Foreign Affairs he says sodomy is against Nigeria’s law and abhorrent to its culture. The president’s special adviser:
The issue of gay marriage came up here yesterday, PMB was pointblank. Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture. Talks shifted to another matter once PMB emphatically stated Nigeria’s stand on same sex marriage. The issue was not pushed,
Victims identified
The victims are identified as members of the same family. The shooter and only current suspect is identified as Matthew Fields, age 32, one of those found dead at the scene. The adult woman who later died on route to the hospital is identified as Fields estranged wife Rebecca Manning, age 37. The two children found dead at the scene were Manning two sons, Jacob Smith, age 9 and Jared Smith Age 8. All died from gunshot wounds inflicted by Fields. The two children were shot in their beds, but it is unclear with the others were shot. Both boys were students at Johns Creek Elementary School. The only survivor of the attack is Manning’s father, Jerry Manning, age 75, who is being treated for multiple gunshot wounds at a local trauma hospital. Sheriff:
The shooting appears to be domestic-related and it all took place inside the home. it appears all the victims lived at the home. The motive is still unknown.
Trade comments on VMA nomination
Swift and Minaj trade comments on Twitter due to Minaj being not nominated for a VMA for Anaconda, while Swift was nominated for Bad Blood.
Minaj: If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year
Swift: I’ve done nothing but love & support you…It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot…
Minaj: Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn’t say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. I’m still confused as to why u just tweeted me when I made it abundantly clear…
Gives out Graham’s telephone number
After Graham calls him “The world’s biggest jackass” Trump responds by telling a South Carolina audience that Graham is a “stiff” who could never get a job in the private sector. He then reads Graham’s telephone number aloud, encouraging everyone “let’s try it.”
He doesn’t seem like a very bright guy. He actually probably seems to me not as bright as Rick Perry. I think Rick Perry probably is smarter than Lindsey Graham.
Responds to Trainwreck punchline
Hathaway responds after being a punchline in Schumer’s Trainwreck. In the film, Schumer’s character tells her boyfriend that after he wins a charity award, he’s acting like Hathaway on Oscar night. Hathaway won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in Les Miserables.
https://instagram.com/p/5YEzZ2l0Kl/
Call to police night before shooting
Reports say that police responded to a domestic violence 911 call the night before the fatal shooting occurred. The call was made by passersby, not anyone in the home. When police arrived they say,there was no sign of any disturbance or physical fight and the people in the home denied a problem. Fields was not in the home when the police arrived. Despite the serious argument the neighbors reported they saw and heard, Rebecca Manning told police when they arrived, “No, nothing’s going on,” and that nothing had occurred in the past between herself and her estranged husband. Police:
There were no signs of a fight at the home Tuesday night when deputies went to check on the family after getting calls from passers-by. Fields wasn’t there and those at the home were uncooperative. There was nothing more the deputies could do. It’s up to victims to open up and say something or else no one else can help…If there are no outward signs of violence in the home and everyone there says nothing is going on, you just can’t pick somebody and say, ‘You look like the instigator,’ and arrest the person.
Discovers second mountain range
NASA releases a photo showing another mountain range on the lower left edge of Pluto’s heart-shaped region. The peaks are about 1 to 1.5 km (0.5 to 1 mile) high, about the size of the Appalachians. The new range is just west of the region within Pluto’s heart called Sputnik Planum (Sputnik Plain) and some 110 km (68 miles) northwest of Norgay Montes. This newest image further illustrates the remarkably well-defined topography along the western edge of Tombaugh Regio.
There is a pronounced difference in texture between the younger, frozen plains to the east and the dark, heavily-cratered terrain to the west. There’s a complex interaction going on between the bright and the dark materials that we’re still trying to understand.
Orders flags to half-staff
Trump orders the flags on his properties to fly at half-staff to memorialize the marines who were killed in the Chattanooga attack. His campaign criticizes President Obama for not ordering American flags lowered.
Nix and Hydra
NASA releases photos of Pluto’s moons Nix and Hydra. Nix is about 42 km (26 miles) long and 36 km (22 miles) wide. Nix’s surface is a light gray with an area that is light red which scientists think might be a crater. Hydra is about 55 km (34 miles) long and 40 km (25 miles) wide and has at least two large craters.
Before last week, Hydra was just a faint point of light, so it’s a surreal experience to see it become an actual place, as we see its shape and spot recognizable features on its surface for the first time.
Plans to offer shares for acquisition
Thai Union Frozen Products plans to raise almost THB 13 billion ($380 million) by offering new shares to existing shareholders to finance its plans to acquire US rival Bumble Bee Foods. Chansiri:
It’s only $20m less than the earlier announcement. The proceed is sufficient to finance the acquisition, and we expect the deal to be closed in the fourth quarter.
Sister: ‘Unfathomable’
Bland’s sister says:
Based on the Sandy I knew, this is unfathomable to me. People who knew her, truly knew her, the depth of her, that’s unfathomable right now.
DA initates murder investigation
A district attorney says Bland’s death is being treated like a murder investigation. The Texas Rangers and the FBI are investigating her death.
It is very much too early to make any kind of determination that this was a suicide or a murder because the investigations are not complete. This is being treated like a murder investigation.
Ban urges calm
UN Secretary General Ban presses Burundian authorities to ensure elections are carried out peacefully.
[The Secretary] calls on the authorities to do all in their power to ensure security and a peaceful atmosphere during the election. He further calls on all parties to refrain from any acts of violence that could compromise the stability of Burundi and the region. [The pause in the inter-Burundian dialogue] took place without agreement being reached on a range of issues that would have contributed to the creation of a climate conducive to the holding of credible and peaceful elections, as contained in the relevant recommendations of the EAC and the African Union.
Governors increase security
Governors in several states are boosting security for National Guard recruiters and all military institutions by arming National Guardsman and other employees. Oklahoma Governor Fallin:
It is painful enough when we lose members of our armed forces when they are sent in harm’s way, but it is unfathomable that they should be vulnerable for attack in our own communities. For that reason, I want to make sure that our National Guardsmen are authorized to arm themselves at our military facilities.
Governor Scott of Florida:
Recruiting centers could be targets and that’s why I want the National Guard moved until officials are comfortable that they will be safe. We’ve got to understand that, you know, we have people in our country that want to harm the military. They need to be safe and they need to be armed.
Governor Abbot of Texas:
After the recent shooting in Chattanooga, it has become clear that our military personnel must have the ability to defend themselves against these type of attacks on our own soil,’’ Abbot said. ‘‘Arming the National Guard at these bases will not only serve as a deterrent to anyone wishing to do harm to our service men and women, but will enable them to protect those living and working on the base.
Similar actions are being taken in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indiana while other states are currently reviewing their security policies.
Support strut probably caused failure
Musk says a support strut holding one of the helium tanks likely fractured near a bolt attach point, and wanted to move to the top of the Falcon 9’s second stage. Several helium tanks, each pressurized to about 5,500 pounds per square inch, are mounted inside the rocket’s second stage liquid oxygen tank. The helium is routed through the second stage’s Merlin engine, where the helium warms up and injected into the rocket’s propellant tanks to pressurize the stage as the launcher burns fuel, keeping the tanks structurally sound. Musk:
It may seem sort of counterintuitive that, as the rocket’s accelerating, that something immersed in the tank would actually want to go up more, but that’s basically what happened. The buoyancy increases proportionate to the G-loading. At approximately 3.2 Gs, this strut holding down one of the helium bottles appears to have snapped, and as a result, releasing a lot of helium into the upper stage oxygen tank and causing an over-pressure event quite quickly…Within the course of a second, this caused enough helium to be released, we believe, to over-pressurize the liquid oxygen tank in the upper stage. You don’t really need to release a lot of helium because there’s only about 2 percent gaseous volume in the stage because the upper stage propellant is not being consumed.
Comments on viral photo
Smith downplays his actions:
I have been somewhat surprised by how this photo has taken off and gone viral around the world. Our men and women in uniform are on the front lines every day helping people — regardless of the person’s skin color, nationality or beliefs. As law enforcement officers, service is at the heart of what we do. I believe this photo captures who we are in South Carolina and represents what law enforcement is all about. I am proud to serve this great state, and I hope this photo will be a catalyst for people to work to overcome some of the hatred and violence we have seen in our country in recent weeks.
Cyberattack on police
Police departments across Canada are hit by cyber attacks as Anonymous takes revenge on the police for shooting an activist, in a case of mistaken identity. Its goal is to uncover the name of the police officer who killed the Dawson Creek activist
If Canadian police was as brave as Canadian nurses, they could deal with people with knives without hiding behind bullets. Anonymous will not stand idly by while our own are cut down. We will most certainly avenge one of our own when they are cut down in the streets, protesting the earth-wrecking environmental policies of the Canadian government, the group said.
Addresses fake pregnancy rumors
Kardashian responds to rumors that she is faking her pregnancy.
I secretly loved the rumors I was faking my pregnancy bc I was so skinny! LOL Well can't hide it now! 5 month (20weeks) and 20lbs up 😋
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) July 18, 2015
Calls AT&T ‘racist’
50 Cent calls AT&T “racist” in posts on his widely-followed Twitter and Instagram accounts. He says AT&T wants to keep “urban friendly” programming off its lineup.
Man Im sorry I have to say this, but AT&T is racist they have had issues in the past and here we go again. 500,000 homes will not be able to view the next episode of POWER…When this was happening they were saying they had the STARZ and other networks that created programming targeting multiple ethnicity’s now I guess (THERE NOT F–KING WITH N—-S).SMH…Change your cable package from AT&T to anything else. It’s 2015 and these people are still racist. They are dropping all channels that are considered urban friendly.
AT&T:
Starz and their paid talent can spin up whatever they like, but the bottom line is we’re NOT going to negotiate a deal that is bad for customers. In these negotiations, our customers are all that matter to us.
Netanyahu on Iran Agreement
Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to verbally oppose the Iran Nuclear Agreement. He states that as the leader of the only Jewish state, he feels it is his duty to make sure that state remains protected and safe against current and potential future danger.
I have great respect for our intelligence services, they’re the best in the world, Israel’s, the U.S. And UK. Yet, all of three of us didn’t see for a long time the nuclear bunkers, we didn’t see the Syrian work on a nuclear reactor that was almost operational when we discovered it.