Penguin’s miraculous survival story, fascinating cave find, what to watch this fall: Catch up on the day’s stories
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👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! With the approach of fall and cooler weather, the US is entering a riskier season for the spread of the bird flu virus. Experts explain why they are worried.
Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day:
5 things
1️⃣ Survival story: A runaway penguin survived for two weeks while lost at sea in Japan during a typhoon. Pen, who was born and raised in captivity, paddled for 28 miles — and though destructive, the storm may have actually helped. Her keeper called it “nothing short of a miracle.”
2️⃣ ‘Significant breakthrough’: A drug currently used to treat HIV has been found to dramatically reduce the risk of infection in people who took a twice-a-year injection, the drugmaker said. Gilead plans to use the clinical trial results to start the drug approval process in multiple countries.
3️⃣ Mass extinction: Some 250 million years ago, a devastating event known as the Great Dying wiped out more than 90% of all life on Earth. A new theory suggests that a prolonged climate phenomenon could have played a pivotal role.
4️⃣ Prime viewing: Looking for something new to watch this fall? Grab a pumpkin spice latte and a comfy seat. We’ve got you covered with the best in upcoming film and TV.
5️⃣ Fossil find: Scientists spent years piecing together the story behind a puzzling cave discovery in France. The ancient remains might explain why Neanderthals disappeared.
Watch this
🌀 Flood rescue: A good Samaritan waded into the water to break a window and save a driver inside a submerged pickup truck during Hurricane Francine in New Orleans.
Top headlines
• Trump says he won’t participate in another presidential debate
• NYC police commissioner resigns as investigations swirl around mayor’s inner circle
• Harvey Weinstein indicted on new sexual assault allegations
4.7
🫨 That’s the magnitude of an earthquake that rattled Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California, with several aftershocks reported.
Check this out
🔍 Far-out fashion: Celebrities dressed to the nines on a nostalgia-heavy night for MTV’s Video Music Awards. Check out some of the red carpet’s best looks.
Your health
Check your cabinet: High levels of lead were found in 12 brands of cinnamon and spice blends, according to testing from Consumer Reports.
Sports spotlight
🚴♀️ Record ride: American Lael Wilcox just became the fastest woman to cycle around the world. She covered 18,125 miles in three and a half months. “I had so much fun — felt like I could’ve just kept riding forever,” Wilcox said.
Quiz time
✈️ Which airline rewards program was just ranked the world’s best?
A. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
B. Air France/KLM Flying Blue
C. Delta SkyMiles
D. United MileagePlus
⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.
Good vibes
🌊 We like to wrap things up on a positive note: Railcars once packed with Atlanta commuters are now 65 feet below the Atlantic Ocean and filled with inquisitive fish, endangered sea turtles and coral. Marine biologists are happy with the progress, which is part of an effort to develop reef habitats and wildlife with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Thanks for reading
🧠 Quiz answer: B. Air France and KLM’s Flying Blue program came out on top in the rankings from Point.me, a points and travel reward search platform. Test your knowledge with CNN’s weekly news quiz in tomorrow morning’s 5 Things newsletter.
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5 Things PM is produced by CNN’s Tricia Escobedo, Meghan Pryce and Kimberly Richardson.
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