There’s a lot going on in the world, but that’s no reason to give yourself a case of the Mondays trying to catch up. Kick back and catch up on today’s trending news in bite-sized pieces. Here are the top stories everyone will be talking about:
1. Proud to be an American
Three American heroes have been presented with France’s most prestigious award, the Legion of Honor. Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler were on a high speed train from Amsterdam to Paris last week when a man armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, an automatic Luger pistol and a box cutter ran through their car. The Americans — along with three others who will also receive the Legion of Honor — tackled and subdued the gunman. Stone, an airman first class in the U.S. Air Force, was stabbed in the neck and had to have his thumb reattached after the incident but has no regrets. “He [the gunman] seemed like he was prepared to fight to the end,” said Stone. “So were we.” Way to be amazing, guys. — USA Today
More:17-Year-old hero saves man from suicide and gets repaid in the sweetest way
2. Get it together, China
Last week was the worst week for the U.S. stock market since 2011, and it doesn’t look like this week is going to be any better. The problems all started last month when China lowered the value of their currency to make Chinese goods cheaper and more attractive to foreign buyers. That, in turn, made everyone else’s goods more expensive for Chinese buyers and now every major market is feeling the burn. The U.S. Federal Reserve was prepared to raise interest rates — a sign our economy has bounced back from its massive depression — but now that’s stalled because of China’s unpredictable behavior and the domino effect it’s having on the rest of the world. — USA Today
3. You go, Mama
Mei Xiang, a giant panda at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, gave birth to twin cubs on Saturday. The cubs are vocalizing and appear to be in good health. Pandas are an endangered species, so having two healthy cubs is cause for major celebration. Hopefully they treat Mei Xiang to a long massage and an all-you-can-eat bamboo buffet. She’ll need it to keep up with her new tiny rascals. — CNN
More: The impossibly adorable panda slide (VIDEO)
4. It’s a bird, it’s a plane
Jamaican runner Usain Bolt might actually have super powers. At the IAAF World Championships in Beijing this weekend, Bolt ran the 100-meter dash in an astonishing 9.79 seconds. Bolt’s best time is 9.58 seconds, so he didn’t set a new record this time around, but either way he’s still a human blur. He’s now won the last six international 100-meter championships and shows no signs of slowing down. The man probably makes Cheetahs feel lazy. — Business Insider
5. We just love happy endings
Tracy Morgan wed his longtime girlfriend, Megan Wollover, this weekend after a tumultuous year. Last summer the comedian was nearly killed in a horrific accident with a Walmart semi truck. He was in a coma following the crash and many speculated he’d never perform again. In May, he settled a lawsuit with Walmart and began giving interviews. In June, he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and most recently it was announced that he’ll host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live in October. Now, he’s a newlywed. Morgan and Wollover have a 2-year-old daughter together and are eager to put all the tragedy and chaos of the past year behind them. We wish the lovebirds the very best. — Washington Post
More:Tracy Morgan gives uplifting update on his health
6. “Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down…”
The Foo Fighters trolled Westboro Baptist Church with a Rick Roll over the weekend. The church decided to picket the band’s Kansas City concert, so the group took revenge by driving down the street in a pickup truck, blasting Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” and causing an impromptu block party that drowned out the protests. Video of the prank went viral over the weekend and reaffirmed the Foo Fighters as some of the coolest dudes in rock. — BuzzFeed
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