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Facebook warns of slowdown in sales growth

Facebook beat Wall Street’s quarterly sales and profit estimates Wednesday.The social media giant was bolstered by increased advertising spending as businesses build their digital presence to cater to consumers spending more time and money online.Total revenue - primarily consisting of ad sales - rose to $29.08 billion in the second quarter from $18.69 billion a year earlier.Monthly active users came in at 2.9 billion, though that was up 7% from the same period last year, it missed analyst expectations.Of further concern, the company said on Wednesday it expects revenue growth in the third and fourth quarters to "decelerate significantly."And it also continues to face pressure from global lawmakers and regulators in antitrust complaints.Facebook, which hit a $1 trillion market cap for the first time last month, saw its shares fall about 5% in extended trading.

Powell says recovery on track; stocks end mixed

It was a mixed close on Wall Street Wednesday as the Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero.The Dow lost 127 points weighed down by earnings. The S&P 500 was little changed. The Nasdaq rallied 102 points.Fed chief Jerome Powell says the economic rebound continues to "strengthen," but wouldn’t give any timetable on when the Fed would pullback on the Fed’s extraordinary bond-buying program that’s been supporting the recovery."So it certainly is plausible that people would pull back from some activities because of the risk of infection. Dining out, traveling, some schools might not reopen. We may just see economic effects from some of that or it might weigh on the return to the labor market. Some people might choose - - again, we don't have a strong sense of how that might work out. So we'll just be monitoring it, monitoring it carefully."But, overall, Powell was upbeat, saying the U.S. is on the path to a strong labor market, and he remains confident inflation will eventually cool after its recent surge. Investors also had earnings to digest. After the close, Facebook beat estimates but warned revenue growth will “decelerate significantly” for the second-half of the year.Global sales at McDonald's surged 57% to just under $6 billion in the second quarter - reversing the 30 percent plunge a year ago. McDonald's had a winner with a meal named after the popular South Korean band BTS. The stock was down nearly two percent as investors hungered for even stronger results. Boeing posted a surprise quarterly profit as sales of its 737 MAX bounce back along with the upswing in U.S. domestic travel. Boeing finished the day with a more than 4-percent gain.Pfizer raised its full-year forecast due to strong sales of its vaccine, as well as its stable of drugs, sending its stock up more than 3 percent.And investors also had a high-profile IPO to digest. Duolingo, the popular foreign language app, soared 36 percent in its market debut.

Blunt, Johnson navigate tricky 'Jungle Cruise' debut

It’s been a while since movie stars did this…. [UPSOUND CROWD CHEERING] Attend a film premiere – in person, unmasked – and with an audience seated in front of a massive screen, albeit an outdoor one. DWAYNE JOHNSON AND EMILY BLUNT ON STAGE: ‘Wow, thank you!’ ‘Thank you, guys!’ But with Disney counting on "Jungle Cruise" – its new swashbuckling family film based on its popular theme park ride – to help lure people back into theaters, a flashy premiere with stars Emily Blunt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson seemed fitting. BLUNT: "It was magic. We've been waiting for a long time for it come out and we've kind of known that we have this little treasure. And now that people have seen it, it's really surreal and really lovely." Blunt plays an explorer determined find an ancient tree with the potential to cure many of humanity's ills. BLUNT: "I always say to writers, like, 'Just write me as a guy and leave the girl stuff to me. Just write me as multi-layered and full of faults and full of, you know, the downfalls of what it is to be a human being and just leave the girl stuff to me'."JOHNSON: "I tell writers the same thing. Leave the girl stuff up to me. Write me as a dude."BLUNT: "That's why you're always so..."JOHNSON: "Sensitive"BLUNT: "Now I get it - so sensitive. You have that vulnerability to you. I get it now. I get it." Johnson is the riverboat skipper hired to take her on the dangerous trek down the Amazon River.JOHNSON: “For those who don't know, this iconic Disney ride that our movie is based off of, that's the charm of the skippers, is that they tell these very bad puns that are so bad, they're good. And then, when people exit the boat, they just find themselves repeating these puns and puns, so I consider myself a new aged pun-slinger, if you will."BLUNT: "He loves this."He also slings more than puns – as the two of them encounter all sorts of tricky situations along their journey.Meanwhile, Disney – and the rest of Hollywood – is navigating how to entice audiences, and to that end is also releasing the film on its new streaming service Disney+ - like it did with its Marvel film ‘Black Widow’, much to the chagrin of theater owners.Johnson, for one, isn’t worried about how it will all shake out.“That's just the machinations of the movie business. It will all... It's like an amoeba. It will take shape and form based on what the consumers want." "Jungle Cruise" debuts Friday, July 30th.

Forest Fires in Southern Turkey Prompt Evacuations

Forest fires in the southern Turkish province of Antalya forced evacuations of residents in the Manavgat district, local media reported on July 28.At least two fires broke out in Manavgat on Thursday, both of which were being investigated by authorities.According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), 19 helicopters and one plane were being deployed. Local media reported that over 100 fire trucks and some 412 firefighters were also responding.This footage, taken on Thursday in Manavgat, shows smoke from the fires, as well as a plane passing overhead. Credit: @efegidayemis via Storyful

Lightning Reported Over Jackson, Mississippi, Amid Thunderstorms and Severe Heat

Lightning was reported over Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday, July 27, as thunderstorms moved through the state.The National Weather Service issued thunderstorm warnings for nearby areas on Tuesday.Hot and humid conditions were forecast to continue throughout the week, bringing the threat of more showers and thunderstorms. Credit: @wx2day via Storyful

Fed in a 'holding pattern' -CIO

England relaxes rules for U.S., EU visitors

England announced Wednesday it will allow fully vaccinated visitors from the United States and the European Union to visit without needing to be quarantined - a huge and long-awaited boost – not just for those separated from loved ones - but for airlines and travel companies… which have been pushing for an easing of restrictions.British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. "We've always said we need to move in line with what's going on in the real world, obviously people being vaccinated in Europe and in America now means that we can move to that next stage, which is allowing people to come here and if they are double vaccinated, avoid having to quarantine as long as they've taken a test before they leave and after they arrive."Britain's travel industry has criticized the government for being too slow to open up, saying it has squandered its lead in the global vaccine rollout and given the EU a headstart in attracting tourists.The new rule – which takes effect on August 2 - currently only applies to England but is widely expected to be followed by the rest of Britain shortly. The government said international cruise sailings could also restart from England.Weighed down by cumulative pandemic losses of $4 billion, airlines such as British Airways and Britain's biggest airport Heathrow, welcomed the move but said more was needed to be done if the industry is to recover from a collapse in demand.Vaccinated travelers travelers also still have to take an COVID-19 test before departure and shortly after arrival in England.

Dust Cloud Creates Mesmerizing Sunset in Phoenix

A large dust cloud blew into Phoenix, Arizona, on July 27, creating a colorful sunset.This timelapse video taken by Twitter user @pattyplz shows the dust moving in from the south and sweeping over the Phoenix skyline.The National Weather Service reported on the evening of July 27 that the dust cloud dropped visibility down to 1 to 3 miles. Credit: @pattyplz via Storyful

DOJ won't defend GOP Rep. Brooks in Jan 6 lawsuit

The U.S. Justice Department will not defend Republican congressman Mo Brooks in a lawsuit that alleges he conspired to instigate the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol - when he addressed the crowd of Trump supporters on that day - before they stormed the Capitol.BROOKS: ”Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.” The lawsuit against Brooks was brought by Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell… who has also sued former President Donald Trump for allegedly conspiring to incite the attack when he encouraged supporters to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory. TRUMP: “We will never give up. We will never concede, it doesn't happen. You don't concede when there's theft involved."Representative Brooks had asked the DOJ to consider him covered by the Westfall Act, which protects federal employees from being sued for actions taken as part of their jobs. In a Tuesday court filing, the DOJ said it had determined that Brooks’ appearance at the rally was a campaign activity and not part of his job as a congressman. During the rally, Brooks referenced Americans who, in the past, had fought for their country. BROOKS: "Are you willing to do the same?"Trump supporters stormed the Capitol after the rally, breaking down barriers, clashing with police and forcing members of Congress to flee to safety. In Tuesday’s court filing, the DOJ said (quote) "Inciting or conspiring to foment a violent attack on the United States Congress is not within the scope of employment of a Representative - or any federal employee…”The DOJ’s decision could indicate it may not defend Trump either.

Families around the world cheering for Olympians

Families celebrate their loved ones winning Olympic medalsLocation: Maidenhead, EnglandDate: July 27, 2021Cheering and applause broke out at 3 a.m. local timeas British swimmer Tom Dean won the men's 200m freestyle goldLocation: Amman, JordanDate: July 26, 2021Rula al Samman watched her son win a silver medal in taekwondoSaleh Elsharabaty's Olympic medal is only the second for his country(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOTHER OF ELSHARABATY, RULA AL SAMMAN, SAYING: "I am ecstatic! I am so proud of him. He did his best and worked hard. His hard work paid off."Location: Imphal, IndiaDate: July 24, 2021Family and neighbors of weightlifter Mirabai Chanu burst into celebrationsas they watched her win the silver medal in the women's 49kg category(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BROTHER OF INDIAN WEIGHTLIFTER, MIRABAI CHANU, BINOD MEETEI, SAYING:"Everyone is happy. This is a result of her hard work. She has won silver medal. She's my sister, I am very happy."

Could display drones snuff out fireworks?

Could swarms of drones replace polluting fireworks?Location: Norton St Philip, EnglandBritish company Celestial flies as many as 300 drones in formationand says the technology could soon replace fireworksJOHN HOPKINS, CO-FOUNDER OF CELESTIAL, SAYING:"My background is a film-maker and I've been working with screens for a long time and when I first looked into drone displays I realised that the night sky is a giant, three dimensional screen of epic proportions and the possibilities, creatively, are completely unlimited. So, we have a digital system here and we bring the stars to life and we have a brand new artistic medium on our hands and it's incredibly exciting and we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with drone display technology."The Tokyo Olympics opened with a drone display India and China have tried to limit the number of fireworksduring the Lunar New Year and DiwaliSydney may even use drones for its famous New Year displayto reduce the risk of bushfiresJOHN HOPKINS, CO-FOUNDER OF CELESTIAL, SAYING:"Our goal at Celestial is to supercede fireworks. We love fireworks but they blow things up, they're single use, they make things catch on fire and they scare animals. So what we're trying to do is create something, creatively, more interesting, green because we use renewable energy sources and we dont scare the animals."

Mother Overcome With Emotion After Daughter Gifts Her Portrait of Late Dog

A woman broke down in tears after her daughter surprised her with a portrait their late dog in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on July 22.Ana Letícia Martins de Souza recorded this video and originally posted it to TikTok. The footage shows Souza handing the wrapped portrait to her mom who touched and hugged the portrait, overcome with emotion.Souza told Storyful the dog, named Bambi, was a gift from her parents. He passed away on June 8.“We had him for 17 years,” she said. Credit: Ana Letícia Martins de Souza via Storyful

Rayssa Leal returns to Brazil with silver Olympic medal

Upon her arrival, Leal skated across the airport lobby showing off her silver medal.She is on her way back to the city of Imperatriz where she was born and lives with her family.Japanese 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya clinched the Olympic title in the women's street skateboarding competition on Monday (July 26), shedding tears of happiness after nailing her final trick and becoming the country's youngest-ever gold medal winner.Bronze went to Japan's Funa Nakayama, aged 16.

Inspired by Olympics, Little Girl in Princess Dress Attempts Living Room Gymnastics

Inspired by the Olympics, a little girl in a princess dress put on a gymnastics floor routine in her living room in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, footage shared by her father on July 26 shows.Twitter user @MetsHomeRunGuy shared the video and captioned it, “Floor routine on point. Future Olympian.”The women’s artistic Olympic final took place on Tuesday, July 27, with the US team winning silver. Olympic medallist Simone Biles, who was part of the team, shocked fans when she withdrew from the final on Tuesday. Credit: @MetsHomeRunGuy via Storyful

Iraqi artist turns junk into portraits

This artist turns junk into portraitsLocation: Baghdad, IraqAli Jamal creates images of famous personalities and optical illusionsusing felt squares, nylon bags and pieces of colored tape(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI ARTIST, ALI JAMAL, SAYING:"I am originally an artist and I love painting, but I saw that the painting world is overcrowded. No matter what you offer there will be people who are so many steps ahead of you, so you won't be able to distinguish yourself. So I tried to find my own way and started producing this innovative work. I worked on these concepts to make my art unique."(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI ARTIST, ALI JAMAL, SAYING:"This portrait is made from nylon bags that were thrown away in the street. I collected them and created this portrait representing a poor child."(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI ARTIST, ALI JAMAL, SAYING:"The materials used are simple, like felt, tape, pins, and nylon bags. What pushes me to work with these materials is the principle that I follow, which is that there's beauty in everything, we just need to learn how to notice it and discover it."

McDonald’s sales surge with help from BTS

BTS proved dynamite for McDonald’s. The fast-food operator said Wednesday its quarterly revenue rose 57% and profit more than quadrupled after getting a lift from sales of a celebrity meal inspired by the Korean boy band. McDonald’s launched BTS’ meal that includes chicken McNuggets and fries in nearly 50 countries. The chain also got a lift from its new crispy chicken sandwiches it launched in February. Same-store sales for the world’s largest burger chain jumped over 40%. It exceeded pre-heath crisis levels for the second straight quarter. McDonald’s sales and profit topped estimates despite facing staffing shortages. The company said finding enough workers for its restaurants was still – in its words – “challenging.” Larger order sizes and price hikes helped offset higher costs for labor and ingredients. McDonald’s raised its guidance for fiscal 2021, citing the quicker-than-expected economic recovery. Despite the strong results, shares fell in early trading Wednesday as the company faces uncertainty amid the health crisis, especially as the Delta variant spreads.

Ship's Bow-Cam Captures Dolphins Gliding Through Water Off Florida Coast

An underwater camera mounted on a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship filmed a pod of dolphins gliding through Florida waters, footage posted on July 28 shows.This clip, posted on Facebook by the NOAA research and survey vessel Ferdinand Hassler, shows Atlantic bottlenose dolphins swimming through the ocean. The NOAA said the footage was taken off the coast of Port Canaveral, Florida, on July 15.The crew of the Ferdinand Hassler was especially excited by a baby dolphin who appears about halfway through the footage and swims alongside the rest of the group. “See how hard it’s pumping its little tail!” the caption read. Credit: NOAA Ship Ferdinand Hassler via Storyful

Macron visits French Polynesia

Macron visited a coral research centre on the island of Moorea on Tuesday (July 27).Macron also spoke to officials and representatives from the Fare Natura, an eco-museum, and also CRIOBE (The Centre for Insular Research and Observatory of the Environment) to see their work in the fight against global warming.Before departing, Macron spent time greeting locals, who had gathered in large crowds to meet him.Macron is expected to make a speech to address nuclear weapon tests conducted by France from 1966-1996 later in the day, which detractors claim disregarded the lives of locals and led to an increase in radiation-related illnesses.

Damaging Flooding and Landslides Strike Lake Como Area

Torrential rain brought floods and landslides to communities on the banks of Italy’s Lake Como on July 27, with footage showing damaged cars, debris and floodwater pouring onto a street in the town of Brienno.Several rescues were carried out throughout the day, Italy’s fire service said.The Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata reported that a gas leak in Brienno caused by a landslide forced around 50 people to stay inside their homes. No deaths or injuries had been recorded, Euronews reported.This footage shows the flooding on July 27, as well as aftermath and cleanup work on July 28, according to Camilla Croneld, who shared the footage with Storyful. Credit: Camilla Croneld via Storyful

UK wants world vaccinated by middle of 2022, Raab says

Raab told Reuters he hoped other countries would step up to the plate after Britain started distributing the first tranche of the 100 million shots it plans to give away.He said it was a moral duty as well as in the UK's direct interest.

Massive wildfire in southern Turkey spreading to homes

Footage shot on Wednesday (July 28) showed massive black plumes of smoke rising from the forest in Manavgat, while Mayor Sukru Sozen said the flames had spread as far as the town center, where many buildings were being evacuated. Footage showed streets engulfed in smoke and flames as residents ran to their cars.Antalya Mayor Muhittin Bocek said "something like this has never happened before" and added the fire had started at four points.Turkey's AFAD disaster agency said authorities were battling the fire with two planes, eight helicopters, and 52 vehicles. It said emergency teams from nearby provinces were also called into action, while authorities evacuated settlements near the forest.

A look inside Italy's 'national house' in Tokyo

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR CASA ITALIA OLYMPIC HOUSE, CLAUDIA PIGNATALE, SAYING:"Welcome to Casa Italia, follow me."This is where Italy’s Olympic team hangs outIt’s one of Tokyo's ‘national houses’where athletes can celebrate their medal winswith teammates, VIPs, and fans during the Olympic GamesIt features its own games roomand a restaurant complete with an Italian chef(SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR CASA ITALIA OLYMPIC HOUSE, CLAUDIA PIGNATALE, SAYING:"We have in Casa Italia a lot of art pieces so everything comes from Italy, Italian artists which are very famous in Italy, we bring with us all of our history and try to combine with the Japan style and the Japan history too."Casa Italia visitors must be vaccinated and undergo temperature checks(SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR CASA ITALIA OLYMPIC HOUSE, CLAUDIA PIGNATALE, ASKED IF THE ATMOSPHERE IS LESS FESTIVE DUE TO COVID, SAYING:"… but it's normal that there's a few people, not a lot of people but we have also the ICO (Italian National Olympic Committee) members, the president of Italian federal sports and everything, but it's a bit less festive, but it's important to be here now to send a message that we can go on."

Vehicle Turned Upside-Down on Street After Severe Flooding Hits Belgian Town

Heavy flooding washed away vehicles and caused significant damage to buildings and roads in Dinant, Belgium, footage posted to Facebook on July 24 shows.The video, captured by Dinant resident Denis Adam, documents the destruction caused by the heavy rain and severe floods that hit the region last week, with one vehicle being turned upside-down.The floods were the worst the town has experienced “in decades”, according to a Reuters report.Adam filmed the footage while he was collecting his own vehicle, which had been carried 100 meters away by the water, he said on Facebook. Credit: Denis Adam via Storyful

Pink offers support to Norwegian team fined for wearing shorts

Pink offers to pay the fines for the Norwegian women's handball team The team were fined 1,500 euros ($1,764)for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms at a championship gameCurrent beach handball's rules stipulatethat female players must wear tops and bikini bottomsMen wear tank tops and shorts(SOUNDBITE)(Norwegian) NORWEGIAN BEACH HANDBALL PLAYER, JULIE ASPELUND BERG, SAYING: "We want to make a change because we don't want the sport to exclude anyone. We wish it to be inclusive, for diversity . There are several countries and regions that don't allow women to dress the way the rules state. We wish there to be focus on the sport and not the clothing. Everyone should feel comfortable and well and only focus on the sport. That's what's important to us."The American singer voiced her support for the women’s team(Twitter picture)The European Handball Federation said it had donated the fineto the Norwegian Handball Federation at the Beach Handball EURO 2021a foundation supporting equality for women and girls in sports

Nissan posts surprise profit, raises forecasts

Nissan posted a surprise profit on Wednesday (July 28). For the quarter to the end of June, the Japanese automaker saw operating profit hit almost $689 million, when analysts had forecast a significant loss. Nissan was helped by a weaker yen, which boosted its overseas earnings. Demand in the U.S. also came in strong. Sales there were up 68% over the period. But Chief Executive Makoto Uchida says the firm is still battling many headwinds. Rising raw material prices are one problem. Then there's the global shortage of computer chips, which is afflicting the whole industry. Uchida says that's a complex picture. He says you have to take into account the situation at suppliers, and the impact of the health crisis.Outlooks on the silicon drought differ. Peugeot- and Jeep-maker Stellantis says it expects the problem to drag on into next year. Volkswagen says it sees signs that the crunch is easing. For now, Nissan says it has been able to manage its chip stockpile to minimise any impact. After Wednesday's better-than-expected numbers, the firm is also raising its outlook for the year. It now expects an operating profit of 150 billion yen, or almost $1.4 billion. Back in May it had forecast breaking even.