Domestic
A 14-year-old student opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. on Wednesday, killing two students and two teachers. At least nine others were hospitalized. During the shooting, students sought safety in their classrooms and later the football stadium while officers rushed to the scene and parents anxiously tried to confirm that their children were alright. Chris Hosey, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director, reported that two school resource officers confronted the suspect within minutes of the first shots, causing him to surrender. He is being charged as an adult with murder. Authorities are still investigating how the suspect acquired the gun and brought it into the school.
American employers posted fewer 200,000 job openings in July than in June, according to the Department of Labor, indicating that hiring may continue to slow in the coming months. Job openings have been steadily declining this year, from nearly 8.8 million in January to 7.7 million by July, marking the lowest level since 2021. Layoffs increased from 1.56 million to 1.76 million, the highest since March 2023, though this level of job cuts is similar to pre-pandemic levels when unemployment was historically low. Since the economy’s rapid recovery from the pandemic recession, layoffs have been unusually low as many employers have been keen to retain their workers.
International
Tens of thousands of grieving and angry Israelis flooded the streets on Sunday night after the bodies of six more hostages were discovered in Gaza. They demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a ceasefire with Hamas to bring the remaining captives home. This mass demonstration appeared to be the largest of its kind in 11 months of conflict, with protesters expressing hope that it might be a turning point, despite deep divisions in the country. Ceasefire negotiations have stalled for months, with many blaming Netanyahu for the lack of progress, as opinion polls show that most Israelis support a deal. However, Netanyahu also has strong backing for his “total victory” strategy against Hamas, even if it means delaying a deal for the hostages.
Two ballistic missiles struck a military academy and a nearby hospital in Ukraine on Tuesday, killing over 50 people and injuring over 200, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack, one of the most fatal Russian strikes since the war began, devastated the main building of the Poltava Military Institute of Communication, causing multiple floors to collapse. The tragic strike occurred on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia. Some countries are concerned that any Ukrainian retaliation could escalate into a broader conflict with Russia.
