Friday morning news: July 3, 2026

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Ukraine-Russia update » In Ukraine:

SOUND: Rescuers search for missing

Rescuers in Kyiv search for victims hidden under rubble in a collapsed apartment building. Officials say a massive, 11-hour Russian strike involving some 500 drones and dozens of missiles killed at least 21 people.

Officials say the attack targeted well over a hundred residential buildings in Kyiv.

RESIDENT: [Speaking Russian]

One woman says she managed to take shelter in a parking garage at her apartment building before hearing an explosion. She added that everything was destroyed and people are still trapped under the rubble.

Stéphane Dujarric is spokesman for the UN secretary general. He said Thursday:

DUJARRIC: Any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.

PESKOV: [Speaking Russian]

But that's sounding increasingly unlikely. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia plans to intensify pressure on Kyiv to achieve Moscow's goals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is asking the United States to give Ukraine permission to manufacture Patriot air defense missiles to combat the attacks.

Colorado wildfires and heatwave » Wildfires are ripping across Colorado — and the toll keeps mounting. Six big blazes have charred nearly 130,000 acres, and forced thousands from their homes.

The largest — the Aspen Acres Fire in the south — is zero-percent contained. Whole towns are evacuating.

Governor Jared Polis toured the fire zone Thursday:

POLIS: We're currently tracking somewhere of around 150 plus losses of structures. It's likely more than that.

That number has since risen to at least 180. And with bone-dry, windy weather ahead, the danger is far from over.

Polis said of those forced to evacuate:

POLIS: I hope that many of them are able to return safely to their homes soon, and to those who lost everything they had, know that our friends, our community, our state will be there every step of the way to help them to the extent we can.

On Saturday the Snyder Fire, near the Utah line, turned deadly as three firefighters were overrun by the flames. They deployed their fire shelters as a last resort but were unable to survive.

Venezuela update » In Venezuela, a man trapped for eight days in the rubble of a collapsed shopping mall … is still alive. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

SOUND: [Cheers]

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Crews cheered as rescuers pulled a security guard from the basement of the mall, a rare bright spot after last week’s deadly twin earthquakes.

43-year-old Hernán Gil Flores survived in an air pocket in his guard cabin, as international crews spent about 100 hours tunneling to him, passing food and water to keep him going.

But the wider toll is staggering. Venezuela says roughly 2,300 people are confirmed dead … with more than 11,000 hurt. And nearly 50,000 people are still unaccounted for.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez is under fire, with many Venezuelans calling the response too slow. But the Trump administration is defending her, pointing to decades of underinvestment in infrastructure.

The U.S. has some 900 troops on the ground providing support.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Hiring slows in June » American hiring hit the brakes in June. Employers added just 57,000 jobs — less than half of May’s, and well short of forecasts.

Yet the jobless rate actually ticked down, to 4.2 percent — mostly because more people stopped looking for work.

PNC chief economist Gus Faucher yliadhad expected job gains above 100,000:

FAUCHER: Instead we got a number that was softer than that. But, you know, this isn’t terribly surprising. Growth in the labor force is weak. We just don’t have as many people available out there to work.

That’s the key. America’s workforce is actually shrinking — and Faucher points to tighter immigration controls, and baby boomers retiring in droves.

Paychecks are up about three-and-a-half percent from a year ago — but still lagging inflation.

The soft report could keep the Federal Reserve from hiking rates for now.

Weekend 250 celebrations » Preparations are underway in Washington for celebrating America’s 250th birthday tomorrow. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has that story.

BENJAMIN EICHER: An air show will feature the new Air Force One jet gifted to the White House from Qatar. Organizers plan to set a new Guinness World Record with 850,000 fireworks launched from ten locations around the capital.

But crowds may not be quite so record breaking. Security is tighter this year, with fences and metal detectors surrounding the National Mall and restrictions on coolers and lawn chairs. Portions of the Potomac River will also be closed to boats.

The National Park Service is encouraging visitors to stay hydrated, as temperatures are expected to hit triple digits, with rain expected before the evening’s fireworks. President Trump plans to speak before the 40 minute firework show lights up after 10:30pm.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Coming up, Steve Limkeman reviews a film about a founding father’s friendship. Plus, the words that shaped America.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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