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

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

Five things you need to know

1. White House declares monkeypox a public health emergency

As of Thursday night, monkeypox is considered a public health emergency in the United States. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said the country is prepared to take its response to the “next level” in addressing the virus and urged every American to take it seriously.

The monkeypox outbreak that has infected more than 6,600 people in the United States is a public health emergency, the Biden administration declared Thursday. https://t.co/hIgtazWeFq

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 5, 2022

2. Parts of the Great Barrier Reef show highest coral cover seen in 36 years

A monitoring group said Thursday that the famed Great Barrier Reef in Australia has recorded the highest amount of coral cover in 36 years. While the news is exciting, the Australian Institute of Marine Science said the reef is still suffering a sixth-mass bleaching due to heat stress caused by climate change.

Two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia recorded the highest amount of coral cover in nearly four decades, though the reef is still vulnerable to climate change and mass bleaching, a monitoring group said Thursday.

🧵https://t.co/LrVL5JR8ik

— CNBC (@CNBC) August 4, 2022

3. Meteorologist turns into child when he realizes live on air that his weather map is a touch screen

A video of Chicago meteorologist Greg Dutra discovering that his weather map is a touch screen has gone viral. The discovery happened live on air and basically turned Dutra into a kid again as he had fun with the newfound features available to him.

This wasn’t in the training manual! @TBrownABC7 @valwarnertv and I go OFF THE RAILS when I discovered the TV is a touch screen while on-air on @ABC7Chicago 😂 pic.twitter.com/almrdxqz3d

— Greg Dutra (@DutraWeather) August 4, 2022

4. China fires missiles over island of Taiwan, Japanese defence ministry claims

Japan’s defence ministry says China flew two missibles over the island of Taiwan. The two “presumed” missiles landed at 4:05 and 4:08 pm on Thursday. The ministry added that the Chinese missiles were believed to have landed in Japan’s own exclusive economic zone. Neither China or Taiwan has confirmed this.

🇨🇳🇹🇼China fired missiles over the island of Taiwan, the Japanese defence ministry has claimed.

The incident would mark a serious escalation at the start of a four-day military exercise #Thread 👇https://t.co/TM3uPua0tw pic.twitter.com/15PQl1Rsn4

— Telegraph World News (@TelegraphWorld) August 4, 2022

5. Kevin Spacey ordered to pay $31 million to “House of Cards” producer

A judge has ordered Kevin Spacey to pay “House of Cards” production company MRC nearly $31 million for alleged sexual misconduct that reportedly happened behind the scenes of the Netflix White House drama. Spacey was kicked off the series during its sixth season when allegations that he preyed upon young men surfaced.

A judge has ordered Kevin Spacey to pay “House of Cards” production company MRC nearly $31 million for alleged sexual misconduct behind the scenes of the Netflix White House drama.https://t.co/XecV6qsFQ7 pic.twitter.com/B0k32oPvDh

— Variety (@Variety) August 4, 2022