Republican National Convention Day 4: It’s all about one man
In a year that has been so improbable, what many believed was impossible will happen Thursday night: Donald Trump will accept the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
The controversial billionaire and ex-star of The Apprentice will close out the rocky, unpredictable GOP convention and address millions across the nation, basking in the moment that few American politicians have ever enjoyed. Also scheduled to speak on Trump's big night: Peter Thiel, one of the few tech execs that will vote for the mercurial New Yorker; and Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s eldest daughter who is seen as an effective bridge to female voters and a staunch defender of her “feminist” father.
The annual nerd mecca, Comic-Con, begins in San Diego
Pop-culture enthusiasts from around the world are flocking to the San Diego Convention Center on Thursday as the curtain rises on Comic-Con International. More than 125,000 attendees will be entertained through Sunday with the industry’s biggest and best movies, TV shows, comic books and video games. Marvel Studios will present a line-up of superhero movies including Doctor Strange, while Warner Bros.will tout six new films, including the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. As for TV, Game of Thrones and Fear the Walking Dead will take center stage. If you can’t make it this year, USA TODAY will be there to give you the latest.
Russia loses appeal against Olympic ban on its track and field athletes
The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal case of 68 Russian track and field athletes seeking to overturn a ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federation following allegations of state-sponsored doping and cover-ups. The upheld ban means the team will probably not participate in the Summer Olympics in Rio.
May makes her first visit to France as prime minister
Theresa May is making her first visit to continental Europe as Britain's new prime minister. She is meeting with French President François Hollande on Thursday — on the heels of her meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday — as she lays the groundwork for negotiations over Britain's exit from the European Union. May said Britain’s goal is to retain “the closest possible economic relationship” with the EU countries as they iron out issues over trade and migration. May and Hollande will also discuss counterterrorism cooperation in the wake of last week’s deadly truck attack in Nice.
GM reports earnings in wake of self-driving car push
General Motors becomes the first major automaker to release its second-quarter earnings Thursday, and they will almost certainly be higher than a year earlier. Analysts and investors will be most interested in efforts to make inroads into Europe — since almost all profits came from North America — and how much the automaker is spending on autonomous vehicle technology and "new mobility" ventures. GM is also expected to disclose details of its $1 billion acquisition of Cruise Automation, a San Francisco start-up now testing partially self-driving cars.
And the essentials:
Weather: A heat wave will continue to build in the central U.S. and the Southwest while a few severe storms rattle the Great Lakes.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures traded flat; Asian shares were higher Thursday.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at the Republican National Convention, Bones and Thirteen.
Be inspired: Model helps other women celebrate their beauty.
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