What’s News
Election 2016
Kochs’ Network of Donors Gathers Without Trump
Network officials appeared to reject Mr. Trump’s assertion that he had “turned down” a meeting with the Kochs, saying they are focusing their efforts on keeping Republican control of the U.S. Senate.
Controversies Change Face of Governors’ Races
North Carolina’s bathroom bill and Indiana’s religious freedom law haunt the Republican gubernatorial campaigns in Indiana and North Carolina, potentially opening the door for Democratic challengers.
China Doubles Down on Natural Gas
A global glut has slowed U.S. shale boom, but China’s state-owned energy companies are pushing ahead with billions of dollars in investment to extract natural gas from shale.
Chinese Group Buys Israel-Based Online-Games Firm
A Chinese consortium led by Shanghai Giant Network Technology and including a private-equity arm of Alibaba founder Jack Ma has agreed to pay $4.4 billion for an Israeli games business.
Interim President Michel Temer, second from right, at the inauguration of Rio’s new subway line.
Brazil’s Leader Says Rio is Ready for Games
Brazil’s interim President Michel Temer expressed confidence in this city’s ability to pull off a successful Olympic Games, as fresh data on surging crime rates underscored the troubled preparations for the event.
Hot-Air Balloon Crashes in Central Texas, Killing 16
A hot-air balloon crashed into a Central Texas pasture, apparently after catching fire while in flight, killing 16 people. Preliminary information suggested part of the large balloon, which had a gondola carrying passengers slung underneath, may have hit a power line before crashing. 90
At Black Hat, the ‘Internet of Things’ Is Put Through Its Paces
When computer hackers and security pros gather for twin conferences in Las Vegas, the focus will be on risks related to the growing assortment of connected devices called the “internet of things.”
Weekend Profile
Artist Refuses to Let Blindness Derail Her Career
The Intelligent Investor
Don’t Get Attached to Your Own Company’s Stock
Ideas
The Saturday Essay
The Strange Rites of the Ancient Olympics
Naked runners, deadly competitions and banquets to honor the gods: The original Olympics were far different from the modern Games. 52
Off Duty
Why the Blender Drink is Cool Again: A Guide
Frozen blender cocktails are getting the respect once reserved for their shaken and stirred counterparts. These recipes, all stone-cold stunners, plumb depths of the appeal.
New Jersey Shores Up Its Rising Wine Status
New Jersey’s winemaking history stretches back centuries, but its producers never earned much attention or respect. A handful of producers are working to change that and create a wine region of note.
After California Wildfire, Exotic Animals Return to Forest Sanctuary
As firefighters tamed a fast-moving fire northeast of Los Angeles, thousands of Southern California fire evacuees are returning home, among them is Tyson, a 500-pound Siberian tiger.
Spread of Zika Virus in Puerto Rico Accelerates
The speed at which the Zika virus is spreading in Puerto Rico has accelerated sharply, according to new federal data, complicating efforts to prevent thousands of pregnant women in the territory from infection.
Austin Shooting Kills One, Leaves Three Hospitalized
A shooting on a busy, bar-lined street left one woman dead and three others injured in Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning.
U.S. in Weakest Recovery Since 1949
U.S. economic growth sputtered this spring—growing a meager 1.2% in the second quarter—with cautious business investment largely offsetting robust consumer spending. The data marked the worst first-half performance since 2011. 1038
Obituaries
Obituary
Robert Swanson Was a Master of Ad Jingles
Robert Swanson was among the top writers of advertising jingles in the 1950s and 1960s when those catchy blasts of music were a vital means of lodging brands deep into the human brain. He died July 17 at age 95.
Markets
Abreast of the Market
Tech Stocks’ New Attraction: Dividends
Technology stocks that predate the internet bubble are hot again, thanks to a feature that many tech firms consciously eschewed in those days: hefty dividends.
U.S. Asks Goldman for Documents Related to 1MDB
U.S. authorities have issued subpoenas to Goldman Sachs for documents related to its dealings with the Malaysian fund. 100
Speakeasy
HBO: ‘Game of Thrones’ Will End at Season 8
HBO's programming president said the eight season of "Game of Thrones" would be its last, confirming what the show's creators had said about the blockbuster fantasy series' fate earlier this year.
World
Pope Francis Urges Poles to Embrace Migrants
Pope Francis repeated his call for open-migration policies and warned against temptations of capitalism and consumerism in post-Communist homeland of St. John Paul II.
Turkey’s Powerful Spy Network Failed to See Coup Coming
Juggling terror threats from Islamic State and Kurdish separatists, Turkey’s intelligence service struggled to make sense of clues before plotters acted on July 15. 74
Video
Wildfires Uncover Historic Treasures for Archaeologists
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Corpse Flower Causes Big Stink in New York City
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Rio 2016: Giving Horses Wings to Compete
4:04U.S.
Chicago Police Shooting Was Homicide, Medical Examiner Says
Paul O’Neal, an 18-year-old suspect in a stolen-vehicle investigation, died from a gunshot wound to the back, according to autopsy results.
Photos
Rumble Seat columnist Dan Neil joins Tanya Rivero to discuss whether the 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster will win over diehard Porsche fans. Photo: Porsche
Rumble Seat
The Sultrier Snarl of the Turbo Porsche Boxster
The 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster S turbo offers a new, quieter sound. But even purists should note: This version is vastly superior. 73
WSJ. Magazine
Meryl Streep: A League of Her Own
In her next film, Florence Foster Jenkins, directed by Stephen Frears, Meryl Streep gives full-throated life to an eccentric socialite and self-styled diva—and her uproarious off-key singing.