Stopping the blasts. Predicting the storms. Making ancient history. It’s Friday, and here are the 5 things you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.
1. Thailand
Eleven bombings in five provinces. Four dead and 34 injured. All over two days. That’s the toll in Thailand, as officials scramble to figure out just what is going on. No one has claimed responsibility, and officials aren’t even prepared to say this is terrorism. Some believe it may be sabotage. In one of the bombings, the devices were hidden in tree pots. Many of the blasts occurred near areas popular with foreign tourists.
2. Campaign 2016
Team Clinton got a day off from talking about emails. But it had to deal with something it probably finds just as unappealing — questions about the relationship between the Clinton Foundation and Hillary Clinton’s State Department. A CNN investigation discovered that a top Clinton aide at State traveled to New York to interview a pair of job candidates for the Clinton Foundation back in 2012. Well, that sounds cozy. Also, and this one’s for Donald Trump, Obama was not the founder of ISIS.
3. Hurricanes
We’re almost halfway through the Atlantic hurricane season, and there hasn’t been that many storms, so we’re pretty much home free, right? Don’t bet on it, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. As a matter of fact, NOAA is upping its forecast for named storms from 10-16 to 12-17. Why? The second half of the season is always the busiest, plus other factors like a weakening El Nino are creating conditions for what could be the busiest hurricane season in four years.
4. Amusement park accidents
It’s been a tough week at the nation’s amusement parks, which saw its fourth accident in five days yesterday when a boy fell off a roller coaster in Pennsylvania. The child was airlifted to a hospital in Pittsburgh. On Monday, three children were hurt after falling from a Ferris wheel in Tennessee. On Sunday, a 10-year-old boy died while riding a water slide in Kansas City.
5. Olympics
Michael Phelps grabbed his 22nd gold medal after winning the 200-meter individual medley. That’s his 13th individual triumph at the Games, breaking a record set about 2,160 years ago! Simone Biles, who may walk away with five golds, claimed her second by winning the women’s individual all-around gymnastics event. And if you’re looking for a great party, head to Fiji. The tiny island’s men’s rugby sevens team won the country’s first gold medal. Here’s what else happened yesterday and what’s coming up today.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
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Eye on the sky
Get the popcorn ready: NASA says an increased rate of meteors makes this year’s Perseid meteor shower the one blockbuster you have to see.
Northern neighbors
Think all of our NAFTA complaints involve Mexico? Nope, those nice Canadians beyond our northern border are giving us all the trade troubles.
Back in black
He was in it for barely a second, but he still stole the show. A new trailer for “Rogue One” debuted last night, with a glimpse of galactic baddie Darth Vader.
The walking dead
Seoul’s launching an assault on “smartphone zombies” who never look up from their phones. They need to do the same thing over here.
Creative differences
An actor and a writer on “Criminal Minds” had a little disagreement over the script. They settled it like civilized people do: with a kick and a suspension.
Number of the day
100
The number of stores being closed by Macy’s. The retailer has suffered through six straight quarters of declines in sales.
AND FINALLY …
Just swingin’
A guy builds a giant swing at his home, because we guess he’s confusing his backyard with the fairgrounds or something.
