Here’s what I’m reading up on this first day of August: 

• A 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas extinguishes after just three hours. 

• A series of gas blasts kill at least 25 people in Taiwan. 

• The House postpones vacations for at least one day while it tries to figure out what to do about immigration.

• Speaking of the House, Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is leaving a lot sooner than expected. 

• Unemployment climbs a fraction up to 6.2 percent. 

• Facebook brings free, but very limited, internet to cell phone users in Zambia. 

• The James Brown biopic opens in theaters today. 

• The U.S. is bringing aid workers infected with Ebola to Atlanta. 

• California beaches have been graced by gorgeous velella velellas.