5 Things posted Aug 18, 2022 @ 08:00am by Iain Burns

5 things you need to know this morning: Aug. 18, 2022

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. Alleged Rushdie attacker only read 2 pages of controversial book, according to report

The man accused of stabbing Salman Rushdie has told an American newspaper that he only read two pages of the author's controversial book The Satanic Verses. Hadi Matar, 24, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

Salman Rushdie attacker Hadi Matar 'surprised' author survived. Matar had read only ‘2 pages’ of Rushdie’s novel and that was enough for this Islamist to take Rushdie’s life. https://t.co/7yF8J0FfK5
— Ram (@ramprasad_c) August 17, 2022

2. Bodies found in suitcases identified as children, police say

Human remains found in suitcases in New Zealand have been identified as belonging to two young children. The cases were bought at auction after being in storage for several years, police said.

Police in New Zealand say a family who bought abandoned goods from a storage unit discovered the bodies of two children hidden in suitcases. An investigator said the children were between 5 and 10 years old, had been dead for a number of years. https://t.co/bSLhkMyTE1
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 18, 2022

3. Finnish PM denies taking drugs after party video leaked

The world's youngest prime minister has denied taking drugs after videos showing her partying were leaked. Sanna Marin, the 36-year-old in charge of Finland, said she merely drank alcohol and had fun "in a boisterous way."

Finland PM partying video causes backlash https://t.co/BRRKvsjErl
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 18, 2022

4. Dozens killed in Algeria fires

Dozens of people have been killed in Algeria as the country's north endures a devastating fire season. Fires have been raging across the Mediterranean this year, with Portugal, Spain, Greece and France among those affected.

At least 26 people died and dozens of others were injured in forest fires that ravaged 14 districts of northern #Algeria 🇩🇿—a country with an already limited amount of forest.

FRANCE 24's @erinogun reports ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/W9zAQmR1ze
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) August 18, 2022

5. US to hold trade talks with Taiwan

The US has announced a plan to hold formal trade negotiations with Taiwan weeks after a visit to the island by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sparked fury in Beijing. US-Taiwan trade was estimated to be worth about US$106 billion in 2020.

The United States and Taiwan have officially agreed to launch negotiations on a new trade and investment pacthttps://t.co/2DZZRYVa02
— CNN (@CNN) August 18, 2022

And lastly...

In stranger news, the Japanese government has launched a new campaign designed to get young people to drink more booze. The country's tax agency is hoping to persuade people aged 20 to 39 – who are increasingly abstinent – to buy more sake, shochu and other alcoholic beverages amid falling tax revenues.