1. ANNAN RESIGNS AS SYRIA SPECIAL ENVOY
Kofi Annan is quitting his role as international peace envoy for Syria. Annan, the former U.N. Secretary-General, said he was frustrated with the "finger-pointing and name-calling" at the U.N. Security Council. "The increasing militarization on the ground and the clear lack of unity in the Security Council, have fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effective exercise of my role." Russia and China thrice vetoed Security Council resolutions to put increased pressure and sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, severely limiting Annan's diplomatic options. The White House also blamed Annan's quitting on Beijing and Moscow. [Reuters]
………………………………………………………………………………
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. GAY-MARRIAGE BACKERS STAGE CHICK-FIL-A "KISS-IN"
Same-sex marriage supporters are demonstrating across the country Friday by heading to their local Chick-fil-A and kissing a member of the same sex. The "kiss-in" demonstration follows efforts by traditional-marriage advocates on Wednesday to show their support for the restaurant chain, whose CEO ignited a controversy with his comments about traditional marriage, with a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. [ABC News]
………………………………………………………………………………
3. U.S. ADDS 163,000 JOBS, UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 8.3%
The U.S. economy added a better-than-expected 163,000 jobs in July, the Labor Department announced on Friday morning, the best net gain in five months. Many analysts had expected a more modest boost of about 100,000 jobs. Despite the gains, the unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in July, from 8.2 percent in June . [Associated Press]
………………………………………………………………………………
4. GABBY DOUGLAS WINS GOLD
U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas, 16, won her sport's biggest prize Thursday, taking the gold in the women's all-around competition. It's her second gold medal in these games, after the U.S. women took top honors in the team competition earlier in the week. Douglas is the third consecutive U.S. woman to win the individual title, and the first African-American. [Associated Press]
………………………………………………………………………………
5. HOUSE PASSES $383 MILLION DROUGHT RELIEF BILL
The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to provide $383 million in disaster relief to drought-stricken farmers. Almost two-thirds of the continental U.S., much of it prime land for ranchers and farmers, is suffering the worst drought in 50 years. The Senate begins a five-week vacation on Friday, and it's unclear how that chamber will act on the House bill. [Reuters]
………………………………………………………………………………
6. KNIGHT CAPITAL SHARES PLUMMET
Shares of Knight Capital are falling fast after the company suffered a $440 million loss due to erroneous trades caused by technical glitches related to the installation of new software. Shares of the brokerage firm fell 63 percent Thursday, following a 33 percent drop Wednesday. [Wall Street Journal]
………………………………………………………………………………
7. KIM JONG UN MAKES DIPLOMATIC DEBUT
North Korean state media reports that the country's new leader hosted a dinner for senior political officials from China. The Pyongyang dinner marks Kim's first official diplomatic foray since he became leader following his father's death last December. [Associated Press]
………………………………………………………………………………
8. W.H.O.: EBOLA CONTAINED IN UGANDA
The Ebola outbreak in Uganda is now under control, according to a World Health Organization official. One hundred seventy-six people — all of those known to have been in contact with an Ebola victim — have been isolated and are being closely watched for symptoms of the deadly disease. So far, at least 16 Ugandans have died from the disease. [USA Today]
………………………………………………………………………………
9. TOTAL RECALL GETS MIXED REVIEWS
The reviews are coming in for director Len Wiseman's Total Recall reboot and they're mixed, with some calling it "bland and inoffensive" and others hailing it as a "vast improvement" over the original. Colin Farrell plays Douglas Quaid, a role inhabited by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990 film. [MTV News]
………………………………………………………………………………
10. PHELPS TO SWIM FINAL INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC RACE
Michael Phelps is set to swim the 100-meter butterfly Friday, in what will be his last individual Olympic event. On Thursday, he won gold in the 200-meter individual medley, beating his longtime rival and teammate Ryan Lochte. That victory made him the first man to win the same event at three consecutive Olympics. [Associated Press]
