Tuesday, 2 August 2022

U.S. strike kills the leader of Al Qaeda. Plus, a surge in Kia and Hyundai car thefts.

August 02, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

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The leader of Al Qaeda is killed by a U.S. drone strike, and how you can protect your vehicle from a TikTok trend leading to thefts. Plus, try our new 31-day strength and walking routine for August.

THE LATEST

U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan kills leader of Al Qaeda who was one of the plotters of the 9/11 attacks.

President Joe Biden announced last night that a U.S. drone strike over the weekend in Afghanistan killed top Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the figures behind the Sept. 11 attacks. "Justice has been delivered. And this terrorist leader is no more," Biden said from the White House. Al-Zawahiri was second in command to Osama bin Laden during the 9/11 attacks and took over as Al Qaeda leader in 2011 after bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan.

Kia and Hyundai vehicle theft has reportedly increased because of this TikTok trend.

Police in Ohio have urged Kia and Hyundai owners to take precautions after a social media challenge called "Kia Boyz" shows how USB charging cords can start up cars that don't have push-start buttons, which they say has led to more thefts. A Kia spokesperson told NBC News the company is aware of the rise in thefts and that all 2022 models have an immobilizer. TikTok told NBC News it will remove such content if discovered on its platform. Here's how police say you can protect your Kia or Hyundai from being stolen.

🚶🏿Al Roker shares 9 tips to keeping a daily walking routine after hitting a 200-day walking streak.

TODAY's weatherman has officially walked at least 10,000 steps for 210 straight days, and he's sharing how he was able to reach that milestone without breaking the streak. From prioritizing sleep to finding a support group, Al shares the daily habits that have helped keep him moving to pursue his fitness goals.

📚10 book suggestions for this summer from bestselling author Harlan Coben.

Harlan Coben knows all about gripping beach reads considering he's authored dozens of them himself, including 14 that are being turned into movies and shows by Netflix. The author has 10 books to check out this summer, from inspirational reads to mysteries. He also shared the beginning of his next novel, "I Will Find You," exclusively with TODAY.

LIVE BETTER TODAY

Achieve your life goals with our August challenge.

If you've been keeping up with our TODAY walking challenge and last month's upper-body workout, it's time to kick off August by starting a simple 31-day full-body strength routine to go with a walking routine. If you're just starting now, this workout from our personal trainer Stephanie Mansour is good for beginners, so you can hop right in. Everything is broken down by the day, with exercises for your upper body, legs and core muscles.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

With summer growing season in full swing and farmers' markets bursting with juicy tomatoes, it's the perfect time to make fresh tomato spaghetti in just 30 minutes. If you're looking for something sweet for dessert, try this peach and pecan crumble with a brown sugar and cinnamon topping that can also be made with blueberries or plums instead. We also have three other 30-minute dinner ideas for this week, including fennel fried chicken with strawberry rhubarb sweet and sour sauce.

DAILY DELIGHT

A little pick-me-up before you go.

Apparently the Hamburglar works in customs at Darwin International Airport in Australia. An arriving passenger from Indonesia was not lovin' it after being fined $1,874 when the airport's new detector dog, Zinta, sniffed out a breach in biosecurity: two McMuffins and a ham croissant in the passenger's backpack. Food safety laws are particularly strict in Australia, and the clandestine McDonald's items will now be tested for foot and mouth disease and then destroyed. "Biosecurity is no joke — it helps protect jobs, our farms, food, and supports the economy," Australia's minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said in a statement.