Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, July 21, 2021:
BEZOS LEAVES EARTH
Fifty-two years to the day after Neil Armstrong stepped on the Moon, Jeff Bezos became the second billionaire in as many weeks to ride one of his own rockets to the cusp of space. Blue Origin’s first human test-flight went off without a hitch, with Bezos calling it the “best day ever.” Video from inside the capsule showed the crew of four, including the oldest and youngest people to ever go to space, doing somersaults and tossing Skittles and ping pong balls as they experienced a few moments of weightlessness. At a press conference after the successful trip, Bezos thanked “every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all of this.” CHEDDAR
COVID-19 LATEST
The Delta variant now makes up 83% of U.S. coronavirus cases, according to the CDC, up from 50% two weeks ago. A new study suggests the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be significantly less effective at protecting against the Delta strain than the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. That study has not been peer-reviewed but the authors say it’s evidence that the 13 million Americans who got the J&J shot may need to get a Pfizer or Moderna booster, though that is not an official recommendation at this point. NY TIMES
AIR QUALITY
The early start to wildfire season in the West is affecting cities on the East Coast, where the air quality has fallen to unhealthy levels. NYC recorded an air quality reading of 155, which would be considered bad for Beijing. The air is considered dangerous for sensitive groups like those with asthma or COPD, heart disease, children, and pregnant women -- all of whom should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. A cold front moving into the Northeast today should clear out some of the smoke and haze. ACCUWEATHER
BULLET TRAIN
China unveiled a new maglev train that will become the fastest ground vehicle in the world when it goes into service. Maglevs use magnets to let a train “hover” above the track, reducing friction and letting them go much faster than typical trains. China’s next-gen maglev will cut the 750-mile trip from Shanghai and Beijing down to about 2.5 hours. The same distance on Amtrak -- NYC to Atlanta -- takes about 19 hours...if you’re lucky. SCMP
PEGASUS LEAK
French President Emmanuel Macron is among the world leaders whose cell phones were reportedly the target of surveillance by spyware made by the controversial Israeli tech company NSO Group. A leaked database of NSO government clients shows 50,000 phone numbers identified as “people of interest” by customers of NSO’s Pegasus software. NSO says it has no idea what its clients do with Pegasus, which installs itself on a user’s phone and allows for the mic and camera to be remotely activated. GUARDIAN
STREAMING WARS
Netflix reported earnings that missed expectations, showing subscriber growth slowed due to a lack of new programming. The studios are working through a backlog of production delays from the pandemic, leading to the relatively bare shelves currently in theaters and on streaming services. Still, Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Apple TV+ are gaining on Netflix as its share of the pie continues to shrink. But Disney’s focus on driving people to its streaming platform is coming at a cost: Black Widow’s box office numbers last weekend were awful, dropping 67% from opening weekend and suggesting that big new releases can’t maintain their “legs” at the theater when they’re available to stream. MEDIAPLAY
BUCKS WIN!
The Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title in 50 years, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games after losing the first two. MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks to cap a signature season for the “Greek Freak.” Giannis was drafted as the 13th pick in 2013 and declined to leave Milwaukee until he brought the city a championship. JOURNAL SENTINEL
HARRY'S TELL-ALL
Prince Harry reportedly gave Buckingham Palace a “heads-up” that he was writing a “wholly truthful” memoir, but did not ask the Queen’s permission to pen the book. The Duke of Sussex is said to be getting in the neighborhood of $20 million for the tell-all, expected to be published by Penguin Random House late next year. PEOPLE
SPOTTED...
…Touchdown Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs, at the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win. Brady even brought some jokes, ribbing President Biden about the number of Americans who don’t believe he won the election: WATCH
...the new trailer for Jackass Forever, featuring snakes, bears, tarantulas and no shortage of explosives: WATCH
...Sha’Carri Richardson, featured in a Beats by Dre ad that doubled as confirmation that Kanye West’s new album is dropping Friday: WATCH
LEFTOVERS: BASEBALL HISTORY
Last night’s Orioles-Rays game in Tampa made some baseball history. For the first time, a game was called by an all-female broadcast team. Melanie Newman, the Orioles’ play-by-play announcer, was in the booth with MLB.com’s Sarah Langs as her analyst. MLB Network’s Alanna Rizzo reported from the field, while Lauren Gardner and Heidi Watney anchored the pre- and post-game shows. ESPN
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