Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, July 12, 2021:
EXTREME WEATHER
HEAT: Death Valley hit 130 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded on the surface of Earth. The entire West is in the grip of another extreme heat wave -- the third so far this summer -- that is the result of the latest “heat dome” setting up over the region, though this time the worst of it is further south. ACCUWEATHER
FIRE: The Bootleg Fire in southwest Oregon tripled in size over the weekend, burning nearly 150,000 acres. The fire has knocked out three electrical lines that are critical to the region's grid, leading California to warn of rolling blackouts in the days ahead. PRESS DEM
COVID-19 LATEST
New cases in the U.S. are up 60% over the last two weeks, driven by the spread of the Delta variant across 42 states. More than 99% of new hospitalizations are among people who have not been vaccinated. On Friday, the CDC issued new guidance for schools in the fall, advising that vaccinating teachers and students will not have to wear masks. California is already planning to go against that recommendation, announcing that all students will still be required to wear masks at school to “ensure that all kids are treated the same.” USA TODAY
HAITI IN CRISIS
LATEST: The Pentagon says law enforcement personnel from the FBI and DHS will go to Haiti to assist the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The Haitian government has asked for American troops on the ground to help stabilize the country, which is careening into full-blown lawlessness. The White House says it is “analyzing” the request but also has no plans to send military personnel to Port-au-Prince. NY TIMES
INVESTIGATION: Haitian police arrested a prominent doctor with ties to the U.S., accusing him of being one of the masterminds of the assassination plot. Authorities say Christian Emmanuel Sanon flew to Haiti on a private jet last month and had a plan to install himself as president. Suspected members of the hit squad who have been detained reportedly told investigators that the plan was to arrest Moïse, not kill him. NBC NEWS
CUBA PROTESTS
Thousands of Cubans took to the streets of Havana and other cities on Sunday to protest the lack of food and COVID vaccines and demand an end to the ruling Communist party. The demonstrations were an unprecedented show of public anger in Cuba, where the regime does not tolerate dissent. Cubans used social media to organize the protests as the country faces food and medicine shortages made worse by an economic crisis brought on by the collapse in tourism during the pandemic. WSJ
SURFSIDE LATEST
The death toll in the Surfside condo collapse has risen to 90, with three young children among the latest victims to be found in the rubble. Recovery crews have moved 14 million pounds of concrete off the site of the former Champlain Towers South building, leading to the discovery of more bodies. The team of Israeli rescuers that had been assisting the recovery operations completed its mission and was given a hero’s send-off, complete with a “water salute." MIAMI HERALD
SPACE RACE
Richard Branson successfully reached the outer limit of space on board a Virgin Galactic test flight, becoming the first of the so-called “space barons” to reach the milestone. Branson and five other Virgin employees flew 53 miles above sea level, where they experienced a few minutes of zero gravity before gliding back to Earth. The flight kicks off a new era of space tourism that will allow civilians to reach the edge of the atmosphere -- for a price. Next up: Jeff Bezos, who will aim to go slightly higher when his Blue Origin rocket lifts off a week from tomorrow. REUTERS
SPORTS WRAP
SOCCER: Italy came back from behind to beat England, 3-2 on penalty kicks, to claim the Euro 2020 title in front of a stunned crowd at Wembley Stadium. Italy brings home its first European trophy since 1968, while England remains without a major trophy since 1966. BBC
TENNIS: Novak Djokovic won Wimbledon for his 20th Grand Slam victory, tying the record held by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic will go for 21 at the US Open next month; if he does, he will also be the first men’s tennis player to complete a calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver won all four major tournaments in 1969. ESPN
NBA: The Milwaukee Bucks rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to claim Game 3 of the Finals against the Phoenix Suns. Giannis put up another dominant performance with 41 points and 13 rebounds. The Bucks will try to even up the series on Wednesday. CBS SPORTS
BOX OFFICE
Marvel’s Black Widow made about $80 million in North America in its opening weekend, about what was expected and easily a record for the COVID era. What’s noteworthy is that the superhero flick took in another $60 million from Disney+ where it was available for $30 to subscribers. Disney is hailing those numbers, saying it shows that a flexible release strategy can work for big blockbuster films. CNN
SPOTTED...
...Prince George, going through all the emotions as he watched England go up and then give up the lead at the Euro final: WATCH
...Pope Francis, looking well as he delivered his weekly prayer from the balcony of his hotel room, where the 84-year-old pontiff is recovering from colon surgery: WATCH
…a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee that had towered over downtown Charlottesville, Va. for nearly 100 years, being carted away: SEE IT
LEFTOVERS: CANNES HEIST
The actress Jodie Turner-Smith was the victim of a jewel heist while attending Cannes. Burglars made off with tens of thousands of euros worth of jewelry from Turner-Smith’s hotel room while she was at the film festival. Police say there were no signs of forced entry. It’s not the first time jewel thieves have targeted Cannes: in 2013, a lone thief managed to steal $136 million worth of Chopard jewelry from the iconic Carlton hotel (the set of Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief). That was one of the biggest heists in history and remains unsolved to this day. VARIETY
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