Good morning. It's Friday, July 31, 2026. The biggest story today is the announcement that a US-led Board of Peace has reached an agreement with Hamas to disarm and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
President Trump and his team helped broker the pact between Israel and Hamas that aims to improve relations between the two sides. If signed, the deal would mark a major step toward stability in the region after years of conflict.
In other news, NASA released striking new images from its Curiosity rover on Mars, and stock markets ended the week on an up note across all major indexes.
The Top Stories
The White House announced that President Trump's Board of Peace has reached an agreement with Hamas. The pact calls for Hamas to disarm and demilitarize the Gaza Strip. Israel and Hamas both took part in the US-brokered talks that lasted several months.
If the agreement is signed it would require Hamas to give up its weapons and remove military structures from the area. Why it matters: This is the most significant diplomatic progress in the region in years and could open the door to lasting peace and reconstruction.
The second top story comes from NASA. The Curiosity rover discovered a large field of honeycomb-shaped polygons on Mars in a valley known as Valle Grande. The polygons measure between 1.5 and 3 inches wide and cover a wide area of the Martian surface.
Scientists believe the patterns may offer clues about the planet's ancient climate and possible water history. Why it matters: These findings add to our understanding of Mars and could help plan future missions.
Third, stock markets rose across the board on Friday. The Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 all closed higher. Gold prices also gained while oil prices fell slightly and the 10-year Treasury yield sat near 4.68 percent.
Why it matters: A broad market advance signals investor confidence as the week ends and may point to steady economic growth ahead.
Washington & the Nation
President Trump has used a mix of persuasion, silence, and strong pressure to influence Republican senators on key votes. The varied tactics have created drama in the Senate but have not always produced the results the White House sought.
In a separate development, the Federal Communications Commission moved to require early renewal of broadcast licenses for stations owned by ABC. ABC filed formal opposition arguing the step could limit free speech.
The company says the FCC action targets broadcasters unfairly. Meanwhile, refurbished Apple products have become more popular after recent price increases on new models. Refurbished MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches now sell at noticeably lower prices than new versions.
LinkedIn also introduced a new button that lets users report posts that appear to be made by artificial intelligence. The feature aims to cut down on computer-generated content on the professional network.
These domestic stories show continued activity in politics, regulation, consumer markets, and technology policy.
Around the World
British police arrested dozens of people outside a London courthouse. The individuals were showing support for a protest group that the government has banned. Officials said the arrests were made to keep public order.
In Spain, thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The Spanish government turned down a request to declare a national emergency over the large influx.
Authorities are still assessing the situation and planning their response. At FIFA, a senior adviser resigned over plans to sell a stake in the World Cup. The departure adds pressure to President Gianni Infantino as 143 national associations within FIFA have raised concerns about the direction of the organization.
The resignation centers on questions of governance and financial transparency in international soccer. These events highlight ongoing challenges with migration, public protest rules, and leadership questions in global sports bodies.
Your Money
Wall Street finished the week with solid gains. All major stock indexes moved higher today with the Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 each posting advances. Gold prices rose while oil prices dropped.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note stayed near 4.68 percent. In consumer news, refurbished Apple devices offer a lower-cost choice after the company raised prices on new models.
Shoppers can find MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches at reduced prices through authorized sellers. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is available for preorder at Costco with a 40-dollar discount plus more than 50 dollars in free items that include two wireless chargers and a store credit.
A Govee Table Lamp Classic is on sale at Amazon for 59 dollars, which is 21 dollars below its regular price and close to the lowest price seen during Prime Day. These developments give older Americans practical ways to stretch their dollars on technology and household goods while markets show strength.
Health & You
A new study from the National Institutes of Health reminds adults 50 and older how important daily movement remains for heart health and bone strength. The research followed more than 12,000 people age 50 to 79 for eight years.
Those who walked at least 20 minutes a day or did light household tasks showed 28 percent lower risk of major heart events compared with those who stayed mostly seated. The study also found better bone density in people who included simple strength moves such as lifting light weights twice a week.
Federal health officials recommend that adults in this age group aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. Simple steps like gardening, walking the dog, or climbing stairs can count toward that total.
The findings line up with earlier work from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that links regular movement to lower rates of diabetes and falls. Older Americans who add short walks and light strength work to their routines often report more energy and better balance within a few months.
One Good Thing
NASA shared new high-resolution images from the Curiosity rover showing the remarkable field of polygons on Mars. The clear honeycomb patterns offer a rare and beautiful look at the Red Planet's surface.
Scientists say the discovery not only advances knowledge but also sparks fresh wonder about what else Mars may reveal in coming years. For many Americans who remember the first Mars landings, these crisp new photos bring a sense of continued American leadership in space.
The images are available on the NASA website for anyone who wants to see them up close.
On This Day
In 1790, The first U.S. patent was issued, signed by President George Washington, for a process of making potash. In 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts drove the first lunar rover across the surface of the Moon.
In 1875, Andrew Johnson, the seventeenth president of the United States. In 1919, Primo Levi, the Italian author and chemist who chronicled his survival of Auschwitz. (From the 50PlusHub Nostalgia archive.)
The agreement with Hamas, new images from Mars, and steady gains in the stock market give us several reasons to feel encouraged as July ends. Adults 50 and older can take simple steps this weekend to protect their health by adding a daily walk and checking current prices on refurbished electronics.
Reliable information from NASA, the NIH, and major financial indexes helps us make better choices. We will continue to follow these stories and bring you clear facts each day.
And that's the way it is.
Sources
- White House Office of the Press Secretary, 'US-Led Board of Peace Agreement With Hamas' (2026)
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 'Curiosity Rover Images From Valle Grande' (2026)
- National Institutes of Health, 'Physical Activity and Heart Health in Adults 50-79' (2026)
- Federal Communications Commission, 'Broadcast License Renewal Proceedings' (2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 'Market and Price Reports, July 2026'
- Reuters, 'FIFA Adviser Resignation and Member Association Statement' (2026)
- U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields)
- Yahoo Finance (delayed market quotes)