U.S. and world news for August 1

Heat wave: The month-long heat wave that saw temperatures each day above 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix has been broken by heavy rains, with the temperature yesterday reaching only 108 degrees. Slightly cooler temperatures are expected until the end of the week when the temperature is expected to again hit 110 or higher. A National Weather Service meteorologist said the forecast for the Southwest in August calls for it to be even hotter than was July.

X doesn’t mark the spot: A large flashing sign that displayed the letter X, the new name Elon Musk has given to Twitter, has been taken down from the top of the company’s headquarters building in San Francisco. City officials ordered the sign removed since it was installed without necessary permits and drew complaints about being a nuisance and safety hazard. The city previously had ordered work stopped when it found out that work crews were removing existing Twitter name and bird signs without Musk’s company having obtained the proper permits.

Angus Cloud dies at 25: Actor Angus Cloud, who rose to stardom in the HBO series “Euphoria,” has died in Oakland, California at age 25. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Cloud had been seen in music videos and made his first movie appearance in a picture called “The Line,” which premiered in New York at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Niger’s coup: The military coup that ousted the democratic government of Niger has been endorsed by the military leaders controlling two other African nations, Mali and Burkina Faso. France today began evacuating its citizens from Niger along with the citizens of other countries who want to leave. The organization of West African nations announced economic sanctions against Niger and threatened to use force unless Niger’s military returns control of the country to the government it ousted.

Uber delivers a profit: For the first time, Uber is reporting an operating profit. The passenger and freight delivery service today announced second quarter 2023 revenue of $9.2 billion. Net income was $326 million, an improvement of $588 million from last year’s second quarter. Uber reported that its more than six million drivers and couriers earned $15.1 billion for themselves during the second quarter of the year.

Another drone attack in Moscow: A drone hit a building in Moscow today that is home to three Russian government departments. It’s the second time in three days that the building was hit by a drone. Russia blames Ukraine and calls it a terrorist attack. A Ukrainian official said today that the Russians should expect more attacks.