Marvell Technology Group Ltd. headquarters in Santa Clara, California, Sept. 6, 2024. Intel is reportedly planning to sell Altera, its programmable chip unit, as a result of the company's mounting financial struggles, with Marvell Technology seen as a likely buyer, according to media reports.
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David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Global stock markets have been under pressure as geopolitical tensions have resurfaced in the Middle East. Moreover, investors remain concerned about the sustainability of AI-driven demand and infrastructure spending.
Nonetheless, those looking for attractive stock picks amid the ongoing volatility can gain key insights by tracking the recommendations of top Wall Street analysts. These experts assign ratings after in-depth analysis of a company's fundamentals, growth opportunities, and risks.
Here are three stocks favored by some of Wall Street's top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Amazon
E-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon (AMZN) is this week's first pick. Heading into the company's second-quarter earnings, TD Cowen analyst John Blackledge reiterated a buy rating on AMZN stock, citing strength in the Amazon Web Services cloud unit as well as the e-commerce and advertising businesses. The analyst lowered his price target on AMZN stock to $340 from $350 as he revised his estimates and slightly raised his capex projections.
Specifically, Blackledge expects Amazon to report revenue of $200.1 billion, 2% above the Street's consensus, driven by acceleration in AWS and advertising revenue. He also expects the company's e-commerce business to reflect the shifting of Prime Day in the U.S. and other key markets to the second quarter this year, compared with third quarter of last year.
In particular, Blackledge expects AWS revenue to grow 35.5% year-over-year in Q2 2026, marking an acceleration from 28.4% in the prior-year quarter and 3.4% above the Street's expectations. The 5-star analyst expects revenue to be driven by rising generative AI workloads as the company's significant AI infrastructure spending helps to ease supply constraints.
Regarding third-quarter outlook, Blackledge said, "Our rev and Op Income estimates are 0.3% and 3.2% above consensus, driven by further AWS revenue growth acceleration led by AI demand."
Blackledge ranks No. 771 among more than 12,300 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 55% of the time, delivering an average return of 11.2%. See Amazon Ownership Structure on TipRanks.
Marvell Technology
Moving on to semiconductor company Marvell Technology (MRVL). Following several meetings with management, RBC Capital analyst Srini Pajjuri reiterated a buy rating on MRVL stock with a price target of $360.
"Overall, the meetings reinforced our conviction that MRVL can sustain 40%+ growth for the next 3 years, driven by strong AI demand, optical connectivity leadership, and expanding Custom pipeline," said Pajjuri.
The 5-star analyst added that robust demand and limited supply are giving greater revenue visibility. Pajjuri noted that Marvell's data center business is on track to deliver more than 50% growth this year and next. Also, the growth in the company's networking business is outpacing compute, driven by agentic AI and inferencing workloads.
Meanwhile, Pajjuri noted that optical product lead times have extended to more than six months, while XPU customers are placing purchase orders 12 months in advance. While the analyst kept his estimates unchanged, he sees the possibility of upside for the second half of 2026 from the Optical business, with more significant upside potential for 2027 and 2028 estimates.
Furthermore, Pajjuri noted that Marvell's scale-across offering is emerging as an additional growth catalyst for 2027, while scale-up networking is expected to present a multibillion-dollar greenfield serviceable addressable market. Also, management is upbeat about Marvell's custom business, with the company targeting more than $10 billion in revenue for 2028, driven by existing programs with Amazon's AWS and Microsoft and multiple XPU attach wins.
Pajjuri ranks No. 88 among more than 12,300 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 75% of the time, delivering an average return of 51.5%. See Marvell Options Activity on TipRanks.
Advanced Micro Devices
Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is scheduled to announce its second-quarter earnings on Aug. 4. Shares have seen a strong jump year-to-date due to demand for the company's AI GPUs and server CPUs.
Ahead of second-quarter earnings, Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers reaffirmed a buy rating on AMD stock and raised his price target to $615 from $505, citing "increasing focus on path to +$20/sh. EPS in CY28." The analyst expects AMD to reiterate its confidence in the MI450 series and Helios ramp beginning in the third quarter of 2026.
The 5-star analyst increased his estimates for AMD server CPU revenue to $16.0 billion (up 68% year-over-year), $20.5 billion (up 28%), and $25.0 billion (up 22%) for 2026, 2027, 2028, respectively. Rakers noted that in the previous quarter, AMD increased its server CPU total addressable market estimates to $120 billion by 2030, representing a more than 35% compound annual growth rate.
Rakers expects AMD to comment on an additional rise in server CPU demand since its first-quarter results. He sees upside driven by agentic AI demand momentum, cloud demand, and traditional enterprise modernization. In this regard, the analyst highlighted that Micron increased its 2026 server shipment guidance recently. Also, checks indicate continued upside to the average selling price.
Meanwhile, Rakers' data center GPU estimates remain above consensus at $15.6 billion, $40.6 billion, and $63.0 billion for 2026, 2027, and 2028, respectively, while estimates for the client and gaming businesses are below the Street's consensus. Overall, the analyst projects EPS of $7.15, $13.40, and $18.75 for 2026, 2027, and 2028, respectively.
Rakers ranks No. 5 among more than 12,300 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 73% of the time, delivering an average return of 56.8%. See AMD Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks.%!s()
Iran launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours this morning in retaliation to a number of US strikes and announced the closure of the strategic strait of Hormuz until further notice.
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Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE all reportedly came under attack. Qatar said three people, including a child, had been injured by falling shrapnel but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.
The US said it had struck Iran early on Sunday after the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship they claimed was sailing an “unauthorised route” through the strait of Hormuz.
According to state media, the IRGC then said they had hit a second vessel, accusing it of “violating regulations”.
A short time later, US central command said its forces had carried out a round of strikes against Iran, attacking at least 140 targets.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator in the peace talks and the country’s parliament speaker, said in a social media post this morning that: “The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”
In response to the US attacks against Iran, the IRGC claimed they had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, attacked US aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman and destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar.
India’s foreign ministry condemned an attack on the commercial vessel – GFS Galaxy – off the coast of Oman earlier today. It said 10 of the 11 Indian nationals on board have been rescued, while one remains missing.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said that the maritime security threat level in the strait of Hormuz remains “severe”.
But despite claims from Iran that the strait has been closed, the UKMTO said a southern route remains available, though it warned of potential mine dangers.
Key events
1h ago
Summary of the day so far...
3h ago
Maritime security threat in strait of Hormuz remains 'severe' - UKMTO
3h ago
Era of one-sided deals is over, top Iranian negotiator says, as he warns US 'reality is knocking'
4h ago
Lindsey Graham, key Trump ally, has died after sudden illness, his office says
4h ago
Iran has taken control of the strait of Hormuz with 'power', official says
4h ago
Iran attacks Gulf countries after fresh US strikes
Oman has said 23 people have been rescued from a ship that was attacked by Iran this morning. But authorities said one member of the GFS Galaxy vessel crew was still missing, with searches continuing to find them.
India’s foreign ministry said earlier today that 10 of the 11 Indian nationals on board the commercial vessel, which was attacked off the coast of Oman, had been rescued, while one remains missing.
The US embassy in Oman has urged American citizens to shelter where they are if in the city of Duqm or governorate of Musandam, which lies to the south of the contested strait of Hormuz, “due to recent activity”. In a post on X, the embassy wrote:
double quotation markIf in Duqm or Musandam, to the extent possible, remain in your residence, hotel, or another structure, and stay away from windows.
We are monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely and will keep you updated so you can make decisions about your safety. If you want to leave the Middle East, the US government is ready to assist by providing you the latest information about the departure options available.
President Trump, secretary of state Rubio, and the Department of state have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens.
Summary of the day so far...
Here is a quick recap of events so far today:
Iran launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours this morning in retaliation to a number of US strikes and announced the closure of the strategic strait of Hormuz until further notice.
Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE all reportedly came under attack. Qatar said three people, including a child, had been injured by falling shrapnel but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.
The US said it had struck Iran early on Sunday after the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship they claimed was sailing an “unauthorised route” through the strait of Hormuz.
According to state media, the IRGC then said they had hit a second vessel, accusing it of “violating regulations”.
A short time later, US central command said its forces had carried out a round of strikes against Iran, attacking at least 140 targets.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator in the peace talks and the country’s parliament speaker, said in a social media post this morning that: “The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”
In response to the US attacks against Iran, the IRGC claimed they had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, attacked US aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman and destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar.
India’s foreign ministry condemned an attack on the commercial vessel – GFS Galaxy – off the coast of Oman earlier today. It said 10 of the 11 Indian nationals on board have been rescued, while one remains missing.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said that the maritime security threat level in the strait of Hormuz remains “severe”.
But despite claims from Iran that the strait has been closed, the UKMTO said a southern route remains available, though it warned of potential mine dangers.
Jordan has condemned what it described as “brutal” Iranian attacks across the region today, which targeted the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar (see post at 11.06 for more details).
The attacks posed a threat to the “security” and “stability” of these countries, represented a “dangerous escalation” in the conflict, were a “blatant breach” of international law and a “flagrant violation” of sovereignty, according to a statement published on X by Jordan’s foreign ministry.
Jordan, a US ally, said it stands in “absolute solidarity” with the affected countries. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier said it had hit a US base in Jordan in response to a wave of fresh US strikes on military targets. This has not been confirmed by authorities in Jordan.
There has been almost no visible traffic in the strait of Hormuz so far today, with only two oil products tankers seen approaching the narrow waterway, according to a Bloomberg report.
As a reminder, the US president, Donald Trump, has declared the ceasefire over while leaving the door open for talks, and mediators have been trying to salvage a diplomatic solution despite the attacks intensifying.
Trump restarts war with Iran and plays nice(ish) with Nato | Politics Weekly America
In a social media post, Qatar’s transport ministry urged all marine vessel owners and users to “temporarily suspend navigation and marine activities” until further notice.
The ministry said the order was given in the interest of “public safety” and included pleasure boats, fishing boats and “water motorcycles” as the types of vessels that should suspend activities for the time being.
Maritime security threat in strait of Hormuz remains 'severe' - UKMTO
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) has put out an advisory note warning that the maritime security threat level in the strait of Hormuz remains “severe”.
The British shipping security monitor said that, despite Iran announcing the strait is closed, the “southern route” is still available and “has been expanded to accommodate two-way traffic”.
It advised mariners to be wary of mine dangers and strongly encourages coordination with the US Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping, NCAGS, an American navy entity that monitors and coordinates with merchant ships.
Oman’s territorial waters are the only stretch of the strait where Tehran cannot easily lay mines or exert control in other ways. The US has urged mariners to travel on the southern route through Oman’s territorial waters to avoid Iran.
But Iran has laid out a system of lanes through the north of the strait close to the Iranian coast, and has insisted that all vessels use this route (or face consequences).
The advisory note from the UKMTO read:
double quotation markCoordination with NCAGS is not mandatory. Ships may transit the southern route without coordination. There is no controlling authority regulating passage or fee required for any route.
Era of one-sided deals is over, top Iranian negotiator says, as he warns US 'reality is knocking'
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator in the peace talks and the country’s parliament speaker, said in a post on X this morning:
double quotation markThe era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.
Although he didn’t go into detail about what he meant, Ghalibaf published his post alongside an image of a section of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding that Tehran interprets as meaning it has the ultimate say about what routes ships can use while travelling through the strait of Hormuz.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a senior Iranian negotiator and parliament speaker, has said US pressure would not lead anywhere. Photograph: Hamed Malekpour/Iranian Parliament Communication Office/ Handout via Getty Images
In response to the US attacks against Iran, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed they had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, attacked US aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman and destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar. We have not been able to independently verify these claims.
Here are some of the reactions from the US-allied countries apparently targeted by Iran:
Qatar
A child was among three people injured by falling shrapnel after the country’s air defences intercepted attacks earlier today, Qatar’s interior ministry said.
Qatar said the injured people were receiving medical attention and did not report any casualties.
In recent weeks, Iran had hit Kuwait and Bahrain while avoiding Qatar, a key diplomatic mediator, since early April. Doha has previously said it would not act as a mediator if it came under attack.
Air defence systems are activated over Doha after explosions were heard amid a missile attack on 12 July, 2026. Photograph: Ali Altunkaya/Anadolu/Getty Images
UAE
The UAE, meanwhile, said missile threats were detected this morning outside its “borders”, adding that the monitoring of security threats is happening “around the clock”.
Kuwait
Kuwait’s foreign ministry condemned what it called “sinful” Iranian aggression that targeted it this morning, saying it represented a violation of international law and was a direct threat to the safety of its citizens.
Bahrain
In a series of posts on X this morning Bahrain’s interior ministry said sirens had been sounded and urged residents to head to the nearest, safest location.
Jordan
Jordan’s communication ministry said three Iranian missiles had fallen within its territory this morning, causing minor material damage but no casualties.
Oman
The Omani state news agency said drones struck sites in northeastern Oman, in the area that sits on the strait of Hormuz.
Lindsey Graham, key Trump ally, has died after sudden illness, his office says
David Smith
Lindsey Graham, a longtime US senator and key ally of Donald Trump, has died from a sudden illness, his office said in the early hours of Sunday. He had just turned 71.
Graham’s abrupt death will send shockwaves through Washington and the Republican party. He had served in the Senate since 2003, representing South Carolina, and was running for re-election in November.
Lindsey Graham gestures as Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One in January 2026. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Graham, a retired air force reserve colonel who specialised as a military lawyer, was known as a hawk who supported the Iraq war and had long urged military action in Iran.
He opposed the nuclear agreement negotiated by President Barack Obama and has been one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders in the current conflict.
Several leaders in Israel expressed condolences. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, posted on X: “Today, Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. Senator Lindsey Graham stood with Israel not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right. His unwavering support, courage, and moral clarity earned him the admiration of millions of Israelis.”
India’s foreign ministry has condemned an attack on the commercial vessel – GFS Galaxy – off the coast of Oman earlier today.
It said 10 of the 11 Indian nationals on board have been rescued, while one remains missing.
India’s embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation, and coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation, the ministry said.
double quotation markThe continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region.
The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest.
Iran has taken control of the strait of Hormuz with 'power', official says
Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, has said that Iran has taken control of the strait of Hormuz with “power”.
double quotation markWe have taken control of the strait of Hormuz with power, and we will preserve it with power as well.
The latest exchange of strikes came hours after regional diplomats finished talks aimed at resolving the impasse over the strait of Hormuz, which Iran has sought to assert its sovereignty over and sees as its main point of leverage in negotiations with Washington.
During Saturday’s talks, Oman proposed a plan to fully reopen both shipping lanes through the strait, according to US outlet Axios, citing a diplomat briefed on the negotiations.
The report said that under the proposal the southern route through Omani waters would reopen without the need for prior approval, reverting back to the position in place before the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
The Iranian delegation, however, was unable to gain approval for the plan in Oman and took it back to Tehran for internal deliberations, the diplomat told Axios.
The US is demanding that Iran publicly state it will stop attacks on ships in the strait - and that all lanes will be open with no tolls through the waterway.
Iran attacks Gulf countries after fresh US strikes
Iran launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours this morning in retaliation to a number of US strikes and announced the closure of the strategic strait of Hormuz until further notice.
Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE all reportedly came under attack, in the latest escalation that undermines the US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.
The US said it had struck Iran early on Sunday after the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship they claimed was sailing an “unauthorised route” through the strait of Hormuz.
According to state media, the IRGC then said they had hit a second vessel, accusing it of “violating regulations”.
“A vessel that had jeopardised maritime security by switching off its systems was struck and brought to a halt,” the navy of the IRGC said.
Vessels at the strait of Hormuz, as seen from Oman on 12 July 2026. Photograph: Reuters
A short time later, US Central Command said its forces had carried out a round of strikes against Iran, attacking at least 140 targets.
“The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” the military said.
The targets included missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and surveillance locations, it added.
The IRGC said that in response to American attacks it closed the strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies usually flow, until further notice as it warned of a severe response to US “aggression”.
It comes after incidents earlier this week which saw the most extensive exchange of fire between the two sides since the interim deal was signed last month.
US central command said 80 targets had been struck in the early hours of Wednesday in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting through the strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. %!s()
Australian universities will be required to adopt definitions on antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from next year, under a legally enforceable standard designed to stamp out discrimination on campuses.
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Details of the anti-racism standard will be published on Monday as university bosses, students and academics prepare to appear at the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.
A seperate set of governance principles will also become enforceable standards, including an obligation on public universities to publish vice-chancellor salaries, spending on consultants and the outcome of board meetings.
The introduction of a formal anti-racism standard was part of the antisemitism plan the federal government published after the Bondi massacre, and a recommendation from the Human Rights Commission’s landmark report on racism at Australia’s universities.
The Respect at Uni report found racism was “systemic” on campuses, revealing cases of Palestinian students being mocked with shouts of “terrorism”, First Nations students being compared to “petrol sniffers” in lecture halls and Jewish students being fearful of attending class.
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Under the standard, the universities will be required to adopt a definition on antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, create a “transparent” complaints process and issue guidances to students and staff.
The IHRA definition is contentious because of concerns it could be used to shut down criticism of the state of Israel.
Universities Australia last year adopted its own sector-wide definition of antisemitism, which stated that criticism of the Israeli government was not necessarily antisemitic but could be if it was ground in “harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions”.
An audit conducted by the emeritus professor Greg Craven on behalf of the antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, found no university was properly adopting the definition, prompting calls for stricter enforcement.
The federal education minister, Jason Clare, said there “was no place for antisemitism or any type of hate in our universities or anywhere else”.
“Unis will have to act to prevent racism and respond when it happens,” Clare said.
Compliance with the new standards will be enforced by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, which has the power to cancel the registration of a university, impose conditions on its licence and seek fines via the courts.
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The government is planning to introduce laws in coming months to strengthen the powers of the regulator, which Clare has argued “has a sledgehammer and a feather, but not much in between”.
All universities will be required to adopt the anti-racism standard from 1 January 2027. The governance standards will apply to public universities from 1 January 2027, and private universities from 1 July 2027.
Universities’ handling of antisemitism on their campuses will be in the spotlight this week as higher education chiefs, academics and students give evidence at the latest block of hearings at the royal commission.
The president of the Human Rights Commission, Hugh de Krester, and Josh Keller from the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism are among the witnesses scheduled to give evidence at Monday’s hearing.
On Sunday Clare told Sky News he was anticipating “pretty horrific evidence” from Jewish students detailing the abuse, intimidation and harassment suffered on campuses.
“The universities were caught flat footed here and, in fairness to the universities, some of them have made important improvements over the course of the last few years – but not enough,” he said.
City employees in Atlanta, Georgia, recently threw away tents, medication, identification and other belongings of unhoused people at a public park without warning. This led activists and a local official to point to an apparent violation of procedures created after a city employee ran over a tent with a front loader last year, killing a man.
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The sweep through the park occurred less than a mile from a popular spot for World Cup watch parties, drawing into focus ongoing tension over the issue of what happens to the city’s several thousand unhoused people during the month-long event.
A city official said the park where about 15 people have gathered for months was “not an encampment” and that the incident was not a sweep.
Instead, city staffers were performing “routine park maintenance” last week when they threw out people’s belongings, wrote Chatiqua Ellison, Atlanta senior adviser on homelessness, in an email to the Guardian – and therefore procedures developed last year after months of meetings, including giving unhoused people ample warning before arriving at a camp, did not apply.
But Atlanta city council member Kelsea Bond, whose district includes Freedom Park, disagreed. “It’s disappointing that the city is more concerned about the strict, and perhaps arbitrary, definition of ‘encampment’ here rather than the impact these kinds of clearings have on the houseless community,” Bond said.
“[Incidents] like this are disorienting and traumatizing no matter whether they adhere to the mayor’s office’s specific definitions. Our focus should always been on the impact of a policy, not the intention on paper,” the council member said.
The recent incident calls into question the city’s approach to the World Cup and homelessness, as exhibited by the Atlanta mayor, Andre Dickens, months before the event, when he told media: “We want to make sure those unsheltered individuals don’t come anywhere downtown, and throughout the city of Atlanta, not just during the World Cup, but now.”
Downtown Atlanta is where Mercedes Benz stadium is located. Atlanta, New York-New Jersey and Los Angeles all are hosting eight matches, second only to Dallas, host to nine.
Meanwhile, activists said that at least two downtown Atlanta parks where unhoused people gather were also fenced off in recent weeks, leaving dozens of unhoused people to scatter to other parts of the city, disrupting everything from healthcare to the friendships that hold a particular importance for people living on the street.
This has led to more unhoused people sleeping on sidewalks, with nowhere else to go, said Allen Hall, who was homeless for decades and now does street outreach for the American Friends Service Committee. The practices of sweeping camps and fencing off parks “has been flushing homeless people out of areas … and now the streets are flooded with homeless people”, he said.
Sylvia Broome, director of outreach at a program called Remerge, said she had recently seen about 50 people arrive at her center near Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Jr Historic Park, after being driven from downtown parks. Several told her their access to healthcare was now more difficult.
“It’s very disturbing,” Broome said, referring to the shuffling of people from one place to another.
City council member Bond, a democratic socialist, is trying to develop legislation that would place a moratorium on clearing homeless camps of people or possessions while a policy is created to cause less harm – like creating a place to store homeless people’s belongings after sweeps occur.
Activists such as the Play Fair ATL coalition lobbied the city government for months leading up to the tournament, seeking guarantees that police wouldn’t simply roust or arrest people in the streets of the city before and during the tournament.
The city, working with a nonprofit organization called Partners for Home, touted a project providing housing to the city’s homeless people before the event. About 500 people downtown have obtained housing through the effort, in addition to another 900 from other areas of the city, according to the organization. There are about 3,000 homeless people in the Atlanta area, according to a January estimate.
“The math ain’t mathin’,” said Michael Collins, director of Play Fair ATL, in reference to the many still living on the street and being shuffled around. “We’re worried about the city being faithful to its promise, that everyone gets housing.”
The city also spent months last year developing a policy based in part on warning homeless people before sweeping their camps, after killing Cornelius Taylor while he slept in his tent in January.
That policy appears not to have been followed on 1 July, when some of the 15 or so people who spend much of their time in Freedom Park, less than a mile from the Brewhouse Cafe – a World Cup viewing spot – lost all their possessions.
That includes Mashica King, who lost a tent, clothes, shoes, a laptop and some tools. Asked whether authorities told her when they would be clearing out the area – as last year’s policy dictates – she said no.
Cassandra, sitting nearby at the park this week, said authorities took a shopping cart with all her clothes, shoes and some detergent. “I set it there and then it was gone,” she said.
“It was trash to [the city] – but not to them,” said a man named Park, who said he watched from across the street while the sweep happened.
Several people at the park said they lost IDs and social security cards. Kai, who was at a nearby library when city employees came through, also lost her birth certificate. Such documents can take months for people living on the street to replace, and are vital to obtaining almost all social services, as well as housing.
Medicines lost at Freedom Park last week include blood pressure pills, an insulin kit and hormones.
“Like a flash of light, it was here, then it was gone,” said Kai, whose possessions were in a bag, suitcase and shopping cart. She also lost several suitcases that belonged to friends. “Our whole lives was thrown away.”
Council member Bond shared an email from Maj Peter Ries of Atlanta police that said, in part: “This was not an encampment, as there were no tents or homemade beds” – and “Since the site did not meet the definition of an encampment and the property was considered abandoned, park maintenance disposed of … unclaimed items.”
But, Kai said, “this an encampment – because we gather here”. %!s()
Alan Jackson's "Remember When" debuts on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart and multiple albums return following the country legend's final concert. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 27: Alan Jackson performs onstage for Alan Jackson Last Call: One More for the Road - The Finale at Nissan Stadium on June 27, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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Getty Images
In the three and a half decades since Alan Jackson released his debut major-label album Here in the Real World, he's enjoyed one of the greatest careers in country music history. The singer-songwriter has released dozens of collections – including compilations and projects that venture into holiday and gospel music – racked up countless hits on Billboard's country charts, and sold millions of albums.
Jackson recently performed what he says will be his final concert, which was held in Nashville in late June after the country legend revealed he has been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The event was seen by 80,000 people, and for those who didn't catch it in person, an album and TV special are in the works. Jackson returns to multiple Billboard charts this week, and even lands a new hit as Americans show their love.
Alan Jackson Returns to the Charts With Two Albums
Jackson scores two top 40 successes on the Top Country Albums chart. The Billboard list measures the most-consumed country releases in the U.S., with both sales – digital and via physical formats – and streams counting toward chart methodology. 34 Number Ones reenters the ranking at No. 36. The Greatest Hits Collection is not far behind at No. 39.
Alan Jackson Has Charted 14 Country No. 1s
Throughout his career, Jackson has pushed 33 projects to the Top Country Albums chart. 28 of those, including the two compilations that land on the ranking this time around, have spent time within the top 10. Exactly half of those winners, 14 in total – a sum which includes The Greatest Hits Collection – have run the show for at least one frame. The Greatest Hits Collection managed four stints atop the roster beginning in November 1995.
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Here are all of Alan Jackson's No. 1s on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.
Alan Jackson Returns to the Billboard 200
The same two titles also rank among the 200 most-consumed albums of any style in the U.S. Between the two, 34 Number Ones is the higher-ranking on the Billboard 200, as it reenters the race at No. 169. The Greatest Hits Collection is back on the rundown at No. 181.
The Greatest Hits Collection Outperformed 34 Number Ones
The Greatest Hits Collection – just as is the case on the Top Country Albums chart – is Jackson's highest performer between his two comebacks when looking at the Billboard 200. In a little more than the two years it spent on the roster, the project peaked at No. 5. 34 Number Ones only barely cracked the top 40, peaking at No. 37.
"Remember When" Debuts as a Bestseller
FRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 08: Alan Jackson performs onstage during the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Star in Frisco on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM)
Getty Images for ACM
Only one tune by Jackson appears on any Billboard tally. "Remember When" debuts on the Digital Song Sales chart, ranking as one of the 25 bestselling cuts of any genre in the U.S. via platforms like iTunes for the first time. "Remember When" arrives at No. 19, and Luminate reports the track sold 1,700 copies last week.
"Remember When" Becomes Alan Jackson’s Second-Biggest Sales Hit
"Remember When," originally released in 2003 from Jackson’s Greatest Hits Volume II, is one of only five hits by the country megastar to appear on the Digital Song Sales chart, and it is already the second highest-rising of his career. “Remember When” trails only "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," his duet with Jimmy Buffett. That tune entered the race at No. 6 back in September 2023 when Buffett passed away.
"Remember When" beats "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," "As She’s Walking Away" with Zac Brown Band and "You'll Always Be My Baby (Written for Daughters' Weddings)," which topped out at Nos. 29, 35 and 41, respectively. %!s()
