stay away from the particular neighborhood we're focused on. we'll work as one team, federal, state and local to try to slow and limit the spread of the virus. i want to be very clear, our public health experts do not expect to see the kind of widespread outbreaks of zika here that we've seen in brazil or puerto rico. the kind of mosses that care zika are limited to certain regions of the country. we can't be we expect to see more zika cases. even though the symptoms for most people are mild, many may never know they have it. we've seen that the complications for pregnant women and their babies can be severe. so i want to encourage every american to learn what they can do to help stop zika by going to cdc.gov. in addition, congress needs to do its job. fighting zika costs money. helping puerto rico deal with

and by the way, nih just announced the first clinical trials in humans that costs money. that's why my administration proposed an urgent request for more funding back in february. not only did the republican led congress not pass our request, they worked to cut it. them they left for summer recess without passing any new funds for the fight against zika. our experts at the nih and cdc, th have been doing their best in making do by moving funds from other area. now the money we need is rapidly running out. the situation is getting critical. for instance, without sufficient funding, nih critical trial -- clinical trials and the possibilities of a vaccine which is well within reach could be delayed. so this is not the time for politics. more than 40 u.s. service

in 50 u.s. states we know of more than 1800 cases of zika connected to travel, to infected areas, including nearly 500 pregnant women. zika is now present in almost every part of puerto rico, and now we have the first local transmission in florida and there will certainly be more. and meanwhile congress is on a summer recess. a lot of folks talk about protecting americans from threats. well, zika is a serious threat right now. so once again i want to you remember the american people to call their members of congress and tell them to do their job. deal with this threat. help protect the american people from zika. with that, i'm going to take some questions. i'm going to start with some one who just assumed the second most powerful office in the land, jeff mason [laughter] , the new correspondence

>> hardly powerful. happy birthday. >> thank you very much. >> as islamic state loses territory, you and other officials have said it's a more traditional terrorist group. are you satisfied that the united states hasivity shed strategies sufficiently to address that change? given the comments about donald trump, volatility and lack of fitness to be president are you concerned he will receive security briefings about isis and other sensitive national >> i'm never satisfied with our response because if you're satisfied, that means problem is solved. it's not. so we just spent a couple hours meeting with my top national security folks to look at what more can be done. it is absolutely necessary for

syria. it is not sufficient but it is necessary. because so long as they have those bases, they can use their propaganda to suggest that somehow they're still some caliphate being born. and that can insinuate itself in the minds of folks who may be willing to travel there or carry out terrorist attacks. it's destabilizing for countries in the region at that time when the regions are unstabling. i'm pleased pleased with the progress we have made on the ground in john kerry and syria. we're -- in iraq and syria. we're far from mosul and raqqa, but we've shown when it comes to conventional fights isil can be beaten with partners on the ground so long as they've got

in the meantime, though, you're seeing isil carry out external terrorist acts. and they learned something. they've adapted from al-qaeda. which at a much more centralized operation and tried to plan view elaborate attacks. and what isil has figured out is that if they can convince a handful of people or even a subway or at a parade, or some other public venue, and kill scores of people as opposed to thousands of people, -- it still creates the kinds of fear and concern that elevates their profile.

are, less complicated attacks is tough much. it doesn't require as many resources or preparation. but it means that we've got to do even more to generate the intelligence, and to work with our partners in order to degrade those networks. and the fact is that those networks will probably sustain themselves even after isil is defeated in raqqa and mosul. but what we've learned from our efforts to defeat al-qaeda, if we stay on it, our intelligence gets better. and we adapt as well. and eventually we will dismantle these networks. this is part of the reason why, however, it is so important for us to keep our eye on the ball

not succumb to fear. because isil can't defeat the united states of america. or our nato partners. we can defeat ourselves, though, if we make bad decisions. and we have to understand that as painful and as tragic as these attacks are, that we are going to keep on grinding away, can. using a whole of government effort to knock down their propaganda, to disrupt their networks, to take their key operatives off the battlefield. and that eventually, we will win. but if we -- if we start making bad decisions, indiscriminately killing civilians, for example,

instituting offensive religious tests on who can enter the country, those kinds of strategies can end up back firing. in order for us to ultimately win this fight, we cannot frame this as a clash of civilizations between the west and islam. that plays exactly into the hands of preversions -- perverse preparations of islam they're putting forward. as far as mr. trump, we are going to go by the law which is that both tradition and the law, that if somebody is a nominee, the republic nominee for president, they need to get security briefing so that if

starting from scratch in terms of being prepared for this office. and i'm not going to go into details of the nature of the security briefings that both candidates receive. what i will say is that they have been told these are classified briefings. and if they want to be president, they have to start acting like president. that means being able these briefings and not spread them around. >> are you worried about that? >> well, i think i've said enough on that. mary bruce. >> thank you. what is your response to critics that say the $400 million in cash that you accepted to iran was a ransom payment. was it a pure coincidence that a sum that was a payment held up for almost 4 decades was suddenly sent at the same time

released? can i assure the american people that none of that money went to support terrorism? >> it's been interesting to watch this story surface. some of you may recall we announced these payments in january. many months ago. there wasn't a secret. we announced them. to all of you. josh did a briefing on them. this wasn't and at the time, we explained that iran had pressed a claim before an international tribunal about them recovering money of theirs that we had frozen, that as a consequence of its working said way through the international tribunal, it was the assessment of our lawyers that we were now at that point

up costing ourselves billions of dollars. it was their advise and suggestion that we settle. that's what these payments represented. it was no secret. we were completely open with evening about it. it's interesting how suddenly this became a story again. that's point number one. point 2. we do not pie ransom for hostages. being held all around the world. i meet with their families. it is heart breaking. and we have stood up an entire section ofner agency experts who devote all their time to working with these families to get these americans out. but those families know that we have a policy that we don't may ransom.

some how start now in this high profile way and announce it to the world, even as we're looking into the faces of other hostage families who's -- who's loved ones are being held hostage, and say to them that we don't pay ransom, defies logic. so that's point no. 2. we do not pay ransom. we didn't here and we don't -- we won't in the future. then we would start encouraging americans to be targeted much in the same way that some countries that do pay ransom end up having a lot more of their citizens being taken by various groups. point 3. the timing of this was dictated by the -- by the fact that as a

actually had dramatic negotiations and conversations with iran for the first time in several decades. so the issue is not so much that it was a coincidence as it is that we were able to have a direct discussion. john kerry could meet with the foreign minister, which meant that our ability to clear accounts on a number of different issues at the same time converged. and it was important for us to take advantage of thatop this litigation risk that had been raised. it was important for us to make sure that we finished the job on the iran nuclear deal, and since we were in a conversation with them, it was important for us to be able to push them hard in getting these americans out. let me make a final point on this. it's now been well over a year

stop its nuclear program was signed. and by all accounts, it has worked exactly the way we said it was going to work. you'll recall that there were all these horror stories about how journwas going to -- iran was going to cheat. iran was going to get $150,000 to finance terrorism. these none of them have come to pass. and it's not just the assessment of our intelligence community. it's the assessment of the israeli military and intelligence community. the country that was most opposed to this deal that acknowledges this has been a game changer, and iran has awided by the deal, and they no longer have the short-term breakout capacity that would

weapons. so what i'm interested in, if this is news to be made, why not have some of these folks who were predicting disaster say this thing worked! that would be a shock. that would be impressive. if some of these folks who had said the sky is falling, suddenly said you know what? we were wrong. and we are glad that iran n longer has the capacity to break out in short-term and develop a nuclear weapon. bush administration of course, that wasn't go -- by, of course, that wasn't going to happen. instead what we have is the manufacturing of outrage in a story that we disclosed in january. and the only bit of news that is relevant on this is the fact that we paid cash which brings me to my last point. the reason that we had to give

we are so strict in maintaining sanctions, and we do not have a banking relationship with iran that we couldn't send them a check, we cannot not wire the -- could not wire the money. and it is not at all clear to me why it is that cash as opposed to a check or a wire transfer, has made this into a news story. maybe because it kind of like some spy novel or, you know, some crime novel. because cash was exchanged. the reason cash was exchanged is because we don't have a banking relationship with iran. which is precisely part of the pressure that we're able to apply to them. so that they would ship a whole bunch of nuclear material out

facilities that, as i remember two years ago, three years ago, five years ago, was people's top fear and priority, that we make sure iran doesn't have breakout nuclear capacity. they don't. this worked. josh. >> thank you. >> you're watching 7 news at 5:00 as we president obama's news conference there on a variety of subjects today. >> anchor: he touched partly on the fight against isil saying it will inevitably be defighted. he talked about zika, saying we're taking it very seriously. a lot of people concerned after we have that first case in the united states. they believe contracted locally. taking a lot of questions from reporters, one about, of course, iran and the alleged deal, the money being exchanginged talking

announced that process havings going to happen a long time ago continuing to take questions from reporters right now. >> and any important information that you need to know we'll extract it and have it here as we continue this evening. we want to get to some local news, this. a final fair well for a south boston boy. family and friend of kyzr willis gathering for his funeral. he drowned off carson beach while at a summer camp operated by >> bryon barnett is in south bullpen, has more on how his -- boston. has more. >> anchor: morningstar baptist church here backed for the funeral of kyzr willis. family, friends, even strangers touched by this strategy were here to remember and honor and mourn the death of kyzr, described as a loving, playful little boy.

a horse drawn hearse carrying away the body of 7-year old kyzr willis, family members dressed in white followed behind down blue hill avenue. >> kyzr was very loving, energetic, and just full of life. >> he died tragically last week. police say it was an accidental drowning at the community center day camp in south boston. police say he wandered away unnotice. after a frantic search his body was found in the water later. >> the lord does did not take kyzr. the lord received kyzr. >> at his fun 8th, his parents said their painful good boys as others tried to console them. other family members reflected on their memories. >> i'll always love you. i'll remember the young by who had a love for achieving, for

family and the machine at the ring. >> mayor marty walsh also paying his respects. after his death, the mayor ordered new safety regulations at the city's summer camps. family members say that may be kyzr's leg say. >> at the young aim he is, is saving lives today. he's saving other childrens lives. >> this tragedy clearly touched many across the bishop john told his parents that when he was born, he was their son. but that on july 26, when he died, he became boston's son. in mattapan, bryon barnett, 7 news. >> anchor: new here at 5:00, a worster man charged with attacking a police officer who was working a construction detail. 30-year old was arraigned. police say he got into an argument with an officer, tried to run away, then attacked that

attempting to gouge his eye. the officer is expected to be okay. >> now to a developing story out of london of the we're now learning the american woman who was killed in a stabbing attack there is from florida. the governor releasing a statement saying the 60-year old woman is the wife of a florida stated university professor. she was expected to come home at a. investigators say there is no evidence right now that the suspect of the stabbing attack was motivated by terrorism. they have not ruled out terror ties the driving force behind the attack. the suspect is a norwegian teenager, originally from somalia. he was arrested during the attack in central london's square. phifer others were hurt, non -- five others were hurt. the terrifying attack leaving people on edge. >> there was a body laying covered with a blanket.

>> my thought, there is more anxiety going through london right now. >> reporter: the attack came hours after authorities increased security levels because of recent terror attacks across europe. >> anchor: to the race for the white house. donald trump back in new england meeting with voters in maine. some top republicans say they're still backing trump despite the gop candidate's refusal to back their re-election bids. hillary clinton is continuing to focus on those much desired battleground states. >> donald trump packed and auditorium in municipal before a swing to battleground states. this week he's been battling some in his own party over refusal to endorse how speaker re-election. republics rallied, including ryan who said he continues to support trump. >> he won the thing fair and square. >> mike pence defended his

clean up trump's misaccuse. >> is this your role in the administration. >> i couldn't be more proud to stand with donald trump and we are shoulder to shoulder. >> new polls show hillary clinton stretching her lead, include in several swing states. but republics say 3 months remain for trump to recover. >> this is a fight that we still think is worth fighting. we need donald trump to get on our page right now to make this happen. >> reporter: clinton touring a nevada manufacturing plant accused trump of outsourcing made somewhere else. not put americans to work. imported foreign workers instead of hiring americans. >> republics want trump to targeten clinton more aggressively and avoid controversial 207ics. >> today rudy giuliani confirmed there have been talks of changes but nothing out of the ordinary. >> anchor: we'll have more

pat randazzo: when i see those false ads attacking kelly on medicare, i wonder... ...do they think that we're stupid? we know kelly. walter kolodziej: kelly has always done the right thing for seniors here in new hampshire - she has an impeccable record. mary griffin: we need to work across the aisle-which she does. mimi kolodziej: she's fighting for seniors and protecting medicare. pat randazzo: kelly knows that we need to work together to really preserve and strengthen medicare. mary griffin: new hampshire seniors trust kelly ayotte because she has never let us down.

>> anchor: let's head into the olympic zone. native alley, spending time with team u.s.a. flag bearer, and fellow gymnastics samoan around madison, had a short visit with michael phelps, most decorated olympian of all time touring over the 3 members of the gymnastics team.

off with a bang. >> the eyes of it world are focused on rio for tomorrow night's big opening ceremony. brian moore is in rio ahead of the big event. >> reporter: good evening. day it's about preparations, getting everything ready for the games tomorrow. it's opening day and the stadium just down the road from here will be filled with athletes and hope. >> reporter: opening ceremonies, a day u.s. soccer team is already leading the gold rush in rio. scored 2-0 victory, the first obstacle in the search for a 4th consecutive olympic gold medal. this photo tweeted by the goalie, showed zika virus added a new level of concern. tennis stars are not about to left zika trump theirtremes. >> to have this opportunity more than once, we couldn't say no.

individuals are getting in their final practices. fine tuning their routines, hoping to vault into history. michael phelps, the most decorated olympian of all time will hold the u.s. flag and lead his nation into the open ceremonies. >> there is no other better person for -- than michael to represent team u.s.a. >> reporter: rio itself is getting ready for opening night. welcoming the world to the 2016 olympic games. >> anchor: breaking international olympic -- news, the committee has decided several russian athletes despite that doping test problem that they had, will be allowed to compete in these summer olympic games. 7 news. >> anchor: coming up, rio is hoping to stand out as the first south america city to host the games. we'll look at the iconic locations where the events will

>> reporter: sunshine today. and the dry pattern rolls on, the drought, the severe category expanding westward. this is the new update from the climate division of the weather service indicating that the drought conditions have obviously worsened. you go back to the first of the year. many cities and towns running about 7-8-inch rain fall deficit. you won't want to make that up in one afternoon. we won't make that up any time soon. the best i can offer are scattered showers and storms on saturday african. again, widespread. i don't see any break down of this dry pattern, really for the rest of august. perhaps even into fall. 70s, 80s, the city right now at 79. bedford, 86. no humidity. no moisture in the ground, what are you evaporating? not the moisture. the air is comfortable, the good news. dew points, 40s to 50. eventually, a southwest wind will drag in some more humid air

whether, a cool front popping scattered showers and storms toward the land of cheese in wisconsin. it's not here tomorrow. tomorrow, mostly sunny skies, another warm day. no humidity, 83 to 88. saturday, the cool front with a few scattered showers and storms. challenge this weekend, i get that. not a widespread rain event. just scattered. humid, sunday, much less humid. >> thanks. thanks for watching. another hour of 7 news straight ahead. >> 7 news at 5:30 starts right now. >> anchor: now, a lowell dog sitter facing animal abuse charges. why she says she's falsely accused. >> a restaurants slammed with bad reviews, the owner says it's because of a facebook post about donald trump. >> anchor: a violent home invasion caught on camera. the suspect attacking several