August 1, 2016 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- The Taliban claims responsibility for a truck bombing in a military complex in Kabul. (Reuters)
- Syrian civil war
- Libyan Civil War (2014–present)
- The United States launches airstrikes on ISIL positions in the Libyan city of Sirte following a request from the UN-backed Government of National Accord. Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, in a televised address, says the strikes have caused "heavy ISIL losses". (BBC)
Business and economy
- Uber announces plans to merge its China operations with rival DiDi with the merge company valued at $35 billion. (Reuters)
- Tesla announces plans to acquire Solar City in a $2.6 billion deal. (Reuters via CNBC)
Law and crime
- The Malaysian National Security Council Act comes into effect giving the Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak sweeping new powers. (ABC News PM)
- Venezuelan protests, 2016 state of emergency in Venezuela
- Venezuela's National Electoral Council says the opposition successfully met the one percent of voter signatures in every state requirement for a referendum to recall President Nicolás Maduro. Council head Tibisay Lucena did not name a date for the next phase of the referendum process: collect 20 percent of voters' signatures. (Reuters)
Sports
- In auto racing, the 2016 Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway is won by Chris Buescher, the first rookie to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since 2009. Adverse weather plagued the event, causing it to start a day later than planned, and end 22 laps shorter than the scheduled distance. (ESPN)