5 things to know for your new day – Thursday, August 20

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CNN  — 

Protests get emotional in Baltimore. Saudi Arabia restarts airstrikes in Yemen. And the NFL releases its schedule for next season.

The shooting at a congressional baseball practice reminds us of something we too often forget: We are one country, and we’re all in this together. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.

FREDDIE GRAY CASE

The next phase: The six officers charged in the Freddie Gray case head to court today for pretrial hearings. They face charges ranging from false imprisonment to involuntary manslaughter. Attorneys representing the officers want the charges dropped or Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to recuse herself. Activists have announced protest plans, and the Baltimore Police Department has canceled all leave in case violence breaks out. The trial of the “Freddie Gray Six” is scheduled to begin in October.

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St. Louis police fire tear gas on demonstrators
01:46 - Source: Disclosure Newszine

BANGKOK BOMBING

‘Big network’: The search for clues in this week’s bombing in the Thai capital extends way beyond a man in a yellow shirt. Last night police said at least 10 people may have been involved in the deadly bombing, which killed 20 people and left more than 120 wounded. Originally authorities were concentrating on a “foreigner” – dressed in a yellow T-shirt and wearing dark-framed glasses – who was seen on video putting a backpack under a bench in a shrine and then walking away.

CAMPAIGN 2016

Birthers are back!: Ted Cruz birtherism is officially a thing now, after Donald Trump said he wasn’t sure Cruz – who was born in Canada to an American mom – was even eligible to be president. And John McCain of all people agrees with Trump, saying it’s “worth looking into.” Remember, McCain faced his own birther questions during his 2008 run because he was born in Panama (but on a U.S. military base). Another reason why McCain is jumping into the fray: he pretty much hates Cruz’s guts.

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More than 100 fires rage in western U.S.
01:30 - Source: CNN

GERMANY ASSAULTS

Bad advice: Germans were shocked by New Year’s Eve sex assaults and muggings in a number of cities. Groups of men of Arab or North African descent preyed upon women out celebrating the holiday. More than 100 complaints were filed in Cologne, while dozens of other attacks were reported in Hamburg and Stuttgart. The whole thing has reignited the debate over Germany’s open embrace of migrants. And Cologne’s mayor is in hot water after advising yesterday that women protect themselves by holding strange men at “an arm’s length.” Pfui!

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Trump on immigration: 'I have to do the right thing'
03:10 - Source: CNN

FINANCIAL MARKETS

Winter’s coming: Brace yourselves, investors. It’s probably going to be another crappy day. Once again things started off badly this morning in China, where stock trading was halted just 30 minutes after markets there took a 5% dive. Over here, the Dow dropped 252 points yesterday, as Wall Street tried to absorb not only the Chinese turmoil, but also North Korea’s alleged nuke test along with the latest belly flop in oil prices. It’s the Dow’s worst start to the trading year since 2008, and we all remember how great that turned out.

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Administration warns Chinese spies in the U.S.
02:10 - Source: CNN