1. IS would award Clinton MVP, claims Trump
You could be forgiven for thinking that Trump is either convinced his is going to lose or he is trying his hardest to secure that outcome.
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Trump: Obama, Clinton 'founders' of IS
Trump, in a new stretch of hyperbole, asserts that Obama and Clinton founded Islamic State.
After the ghastly public war of words he waged on a Gold Star Muslim family who had the temerity to point out that his plan to block Muslims would have prevented their son for fighting and dying for America, Trump backed up with another appalling comment - this time a wink-wink, nudge-nudge to the "Second Amendment people" (gun owners) that perhaps they could stop Clinton.
The GOP establishment was shocked at Trump's treatment of the Khan family but the outrage in response to the second amendment comment was muted in comparison.
It's taken Ronald Regan's daughter Patti Davis to highlight just how dangerous his words were.
"To Donald Trump: I am the daughter of a man who was shot by someone who got his inspiration from a movie…" she began in a post on Facebook.
But in today's instalment of What-Trump-said-next, the Republican nominee labelled Clinton the Islamic State's "MVP" - most valuable player. The Australian equivalent of 'man of the match' or 'best and fairest.' This was after he claimed President Barack Obama founded ISIS. [Doina Chiacu, Josephine Tovey/Fairfax]
Hillary Clinton has delivered a major economic speech pitched to the middle class, meeting Trump on issues like manufacturing and trade.
"We are builders and we need to get back to building," she said. She also pledged every American home will be connected to broadband by 2020.
China, Germany or the US will be the renewable energy superpower of the future, Clinton says. "I want it to be us!" [Guardian recap]
2. Twin blasts in Thailand
Two bombs have exploded at the Thai tourist resort Hua Hin, with reports suggesting one local woman has been killed and 11 people, including foreigners, sustaining injuries. [Fairfax]
While bombings are not rare in Thailand, attacks in tourist areas are, reports Jonathan Head. [BBC]
3. Migrants and refugees to hand over smartphones instead of passports.
![A Frenchwoman wearing a niqab in Roubaix in January. Hundreds of women have been fined for breaching France's controversial law since it was enacted in 2010.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160818214435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/t/b/z/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1412244501853.png)
Photo: AFP
Migrants convicted of minor crimes could be deported faster under a counter-terror policy unveiled by the German government. But before they get there, they could be required to hand over their smart phones and social media accounts if they lack a passport. [The Guardian]
Interior Minister Thomas de Maizire announced a €2 billion increase in funding for the police and the creation of a new counter cyber team to fight terrorism on the internet. The government will further consult with the medical profession about a plan to force doctors to report their patients if they suspect them of planning an attack.
One of the most interesting aspects is inclusion of integrated teachers to recognise war trauma in refugees and migrants considered susceptible to radicalisation. [Deutsche Welle] The Minister rejected calls to ban the burqa.
4. Small time 'hactivists' responsible for Census Fail
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison took a barrage of questions about the census but only one on the Nauru files on Wednesday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160818214435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/p/y/c/8/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1470905552078.png)
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison. Photo: Daniel Munoz
We may never know the true origins of whatever it was that brought down the census website in Tuesday night, hobbling Malcolm Turnbull's already flailing political authority. Experts doubt it was a foreign entity (read China), beliving it was more likely a few small-scale hactivists or professionals marketing their ability to disrupt websites.
Which makes sense, if it were China wouldn't they want to penetrate the system to access the information, rather than prevent it from being collected? [David Wroe/Fairfax] The census was restored online nearly 48 hours after first collapsing. Bureaucrats will pay, Turnbull is warning. [James Massola,Michael Koziol/Fairfax]
To some cracking comment pieces -
One of the best I've read on the whole census debacle is from David Penberthy. He writes the inability to mix politics, PR and technology properly has vindicated the stunts from Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Nick Xenophon. [Adelaide Advertiser]
His piece includes this cracking line: "While our nation has now celebrated a decade without a properly functioning federal government" - a similar theme to former Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson who says Malcolm Turnbull has joined the ranks of Gillard-Rudd-Abbott in being a colossal disappointment. (Although this suggests the public had an investment in Abbott which I highly doubt). [The Australian]
Press gallery veteran Michelle Grattan sounds almost despairing as she writes off hopes for any meaningful reform in this term. [The Conversation]
NT Chief Minister Adam Giles is accusing the ABC of plotting to oust his CLP Government with its Four Corners program highlight the treatment of juvenile detainees. [James Oaten/ABC] Presumably Malcolm Turnbull's decision to call a Royal Commission into the allegations raised are part of the conspiracy?!
And former New South Wales Premier and Labor foreign minister Bob Carr says Treasurer Scott Morrison caved into the "witch's Sabbath" stirred up in the recent federal election ie. rising populism, by blocking Chinese interests from buying half of the state's electricity grid. [Sean Nicholls/Fairfax]
5. Arianna Huffington to leave Huff Post
![FILE - This Feb. 24, 2013 file photo shows Arianna Huffington arrives at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars Viewing and After Partyl in West Hollywood, Calif. Huffington says she is stepping down as editor-in-chief to focus on a health startup, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, file)](http://web.archive.org./web/20160818214435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/q/p/1/7/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1470933203090.png)
Photo: AP
The 66-year old, who wrote two books about preventing burnout after fainting from exhaustion, has no plans to retire.
Huffington is quitting as editor in chief of Huff Post to launch a new start up, Thrive Global, which will train businesses on how to build a sustainable work/life balance. [My report/Fairfax]
6. Rio
![Setting for silver: Karsten Forsterling, Alexander Belonogoff, Cameron Girdlestone and James McRae.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160818214435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/q/o/t/u/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1470934069152.png)
Setting for silver: Karsten Forsterling, Alexander Belonogoff, Cameron Girdlestone and James McRae. Photo: AP
The Australian men's quad sculls won silver overnight. [AAP]
An absolutely bumper day coming up. Make sure you are following our Live Blog and Medal Tally.
And that's it for me for this week, you can follow me on Facebook for more. Have a great weekend.